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42
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
value can be added to previous reports although several young birds
and eggs were destroyed from colonies found under railway bridges
and other likely places. Early in 1958 the Council managed to secure
the help of an outside pigeon-catcher, who serves various other boroughs
also, and he has reported that he has been able to kill many birds in the
course of the year.
Exhumations
It is the practice for a public health inspector to be in attendance
at an exhumation^ but no such attendance was made in 1959.
Sanitary work generally
Mr. Walker, the senior public health inspector, reports :
" There was a decrease in the number of complaints received during
the year, and in keeping with this trend the number of notices
served under the Public Health (London) Act was considerably less.
Also there was a noticeable decrease in the number of inspections under
the Rent Act. It is possible that these decreases were due, to a large
extent, to housing repair work being carried out in the previous year
under the Rent Act. Inspections under the Clean Air Act have been
considerable, and the figures include visits for the purpose of survey and
again for approval of work carried out and for payment of grant. The
work of the public health inspectors in connection with the smoke control
orders has been proceeding smoothly, and the reaction of the householders
has been reasonably cooperative.
"As this is the last complete year in which I shall participate in the
annual report of the medical officer of health, perhaps I may reflect
briefly on matters of particular concern to the public health inspector.
I have now completed nearly forty years in Lewisham, and although
this borough has never had a serious " slum " problem, I have nevertheless
seen a great change in public health standards generally. It is
now exceptional, apart from the occasional problem family, to find a
house in a dirty and unkempt condition, and even in older houses
people live in conditions of comfort and cleanliness, some with all the
labour-saving gadgets of modern life. Other things occur to me, such
as the more efficient method of dealing with insect pests, e.g. bugs and
fleas, with the coming into use of DDT and other preparations. This