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This transfer of bacteriological work brought to an end the arrangements for
the examination of public health bacteriological specimens by the Royal Institute
of Public Health and Hygiene which had been in force for over thirty years. The
Council paid testimony to the fact that for the whole of this period the services
of the Royal Institute have been available to the Medical Officer of Health and
to Practitioners in the Borough for the examination of specimens for seven days
a week at all times. The Council formally thanked the Institute for their services.
The re-arrangement was necessitated by the setting up of the Public Health
Laboratory Service within the County of London area. The transfer of work has
in no way affected the continuation of a high standard of service to the Public
Health Department and to Practitioners in the Borough.

SECTION C
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
(In conjunction with Mr. W. C. Bartlett, Chief Sanitary Inspector).
Although the position relative to the majority of the houses in the Borough
remains the same as in previous years, particularly in respect of age and disrepair,
the situation appears to have been a little easier during the year under review.
Consequent upon the free limit being raised to £500, notices served under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1936, have received more prompt attention where
the owners had a genuine desire to maintain their property in a reasonable
nuisance-free condition. This situation is reflected in the decrease in the number
of complaints, in the number of applications for certificates of disrepair, in the
number of prosecutions for non-compliance with statutory notices and with abatement
orders. Many owners, however, still found that property was uneconomic
and abandoned it, or asked the Council to take appropriate action under the Housing
Act, 1936.
Having regard to the number of existing hostels in the Borough, and the fact
that this type of accommodation is increasing, representation was made to the
Minister of Housing and Local Government to approve draft byelaws for hostels,
but such approval was not granted. Consequent upon 1953 being Coronation Year,
the large influx of visitors to the Borough caused every available space to be utilised
temporarily for living accommodation. In one case, application was made for
permission to use a large warehouse as accommodation for 50 Iraqis during the
Coronation period. Upon investigation, however, it was found that the space
afforded by the warehouse was only sufficient to accommodate half the proposed
number.