View report page

37
It is an offence, subject to certain provisos, to use filling materials
to which the Act applies for upholstery purposes except on premises
registered by a local authority, and rag flock for filling can only be
manufactured and stored on licensed premises. The local authority
is required to maintain a register of premises used for upholstery and of
premises used for the manufacture and storage of rag flock and to
maintain a list of licences in respect of premises used for the storage
of rag flock. Various penalties are prescribed for noncompliance with
the provisions of the Act.
Standards of cleanliness are laid down in the Rag Flock and Other
Filling Materials Regulations, 1951 in relation to each kind of filling
material described in the regulations, and tests are prescribed which
have to be carried out by approved analysts.
Four premises are registered for the use of filling materials for
upholstery purposes. Samples were taken of coir fibre and washed flock,
both of which were satisfactory.
Pet Animals Act, 1951
During the year 19 premises were licensed as pet shops. In the main,
the sale of pets at these premises consists of cage birds and tropical and
coldwater fish. In general it has been found that pets are kept for sale
under conditions which do not call for any particular comment and in
no case has it been found necessary to attach any special conditions to
any licence which has been issued.
Destruction of pigeons
Section 121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, enables a
local authority to take steps for the purpose of abating or mitigating
any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused or which might be caused
by the congregation of pigeons which are as far as can be ascertained
without an owner. The local authority is enabled to seize and destroy,
or sell or otherwise dispose of any such pigeons in excess of such number
as may be considered reasonable.
The difficulties of dealing with the problem remain and little of
any value can be added to last year's report.
Exhumations
It is the practice for a sanitary inspector to be in attendance at an
exhumation and two such attendances were made during 1954 in respect
of licences issued by the Secretary of State.