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36
The following report for the year 1928 was made to the Council by the Medical Officer of
Health, and was adopted by the Council as their statutory report to the Minister of Health
as required by the Canal Boats Act, 1884.

Formal notices were served.
On no occasion was admission to a boat refused, and no legal proceedings were
found to be necessary in respect of any of the infringements discovered.
There were five cases of infectious disease notified, 3 males and 1 female suffering
from measles. One male suffered from acute primary pneumonia.
There were three deaths reported amongst canal boat dwellers, one being a male
of 4 years, who died from shock following sudden immersion.
One boat was registered. No boats propelled by steam or motor power were
registered during the year.
There are some 78 children of school age known to be living on canal boats
registered in Paddington.
The total number of boats in respect of which certificates of registration had been
issued at the end of the year was 249, one being a motor-boat.
It is practically certain that a number of boats, registered many years ago, have
changed ownership, been registered with another authority or been broken up. It is
under the circumstances impossible to trace a number of registered boats or to know
the exact number of " live " certificates of registration.
The annual cleansing and repairing operations at Paddington Basin were carried out
during the Easter holidays. About 873 tons of mud were removed from the bed of the Basin,
in addition to 536 tons which were dredged previously. Portions of the bed of the Basin
were repaired and about 543 square yards of concreting laid. 60 square yards of pointing
to brickwork was also done.
One of the requisites for an inhabited canal boat is that if ordinarily used for the conveyance
of any foul or offensive cargo, it shall contain between the space occupied by such cargo
and the interior of any cabin used as a dwelling, two bulkheads of substantial construction,
separated by a space not less in any part than four inches, open throughout to the external air.
Such space must be furnished with a pump for the removal of any liquid and the bulkhead
next to the cargo is to be watertight.
It has not hitherto been considered in this Borough that house refuse comes within the
scope of the term "foul or offensive" cargo. Steps are now being taken, however, that
double bulkheads shall be fitted to all inhabited canal boats conveying house refuse and the
owners of such boats are taking all necessary action to comply with this interpretation of the
regulations.
During the year, of the 25 inhabited boats known to be conveying house refuse and
registered in Paddington, eight were fitted with double bulkheads. The remaining 18 boats
will be refitted as circumstances permit.
HOUSING.
Conversions.—Section 102 of the Housing Act, 1925, empowers a County Court to vary the
terms of a lease or other instrument so as to enable a house to be converted into tenements,
notwithstanding any restrictive covenant there may be to the contrary. One application
under this Section was made during the year relative to the conversion into flats of No. 19,
Palace Court.