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The staff engaged on rodent control consists of four Rodent Operatives, who work under the supervision of a Rodent
Officer, and a Sanitary Inspector is in general charge of this branch of the Department's activities. Two of the operatives
attend to routine complaints, and two work on the Block Scheme. Two labourers have been seconded from the
Borough Engineer & Surveyor's Department to assist the latter, and, in addition, the two Fumigation Assistants are
utilised for rat work whenever possible.
food supervision.
Sampling.—Six hundred samples (including 214 of milk) were submitted to the Public Analyst, an increase of 100 over
the previous year. All the samples were reported to be genuine.
Unsound Food.—About 20 tons of diseased and unsound food were surrendered by tradesmen for destruction.
Ice Cream.—Ice Cream received special attention during the year, following reports of illness in other parts of the
country as the result of the eating of ice cream. Many samples were taken throughout the Borough for bacteriological
examination, although this test is admittedly inconclusive owing to the irregular distribution of bacteria throughout
the ice cream. As was to be expected, the results showed wide divergence on occasions, but there was at no time
reason to suppose that the ice cream sold in Paddington was a potential carrier of disease, and no cases of illness
suspected to have arisen from this source were reported.
The Minister of Health has under consideration Regulations requiring the heat treatment of ice cream, and it is
anticipated that these will become law early in 1947.
Inspections.—The visits paid by the Food Inspectors to food premises and stalls were as under:—
Bakers 41
Butchers 555
Confectioners 150
Dairies 583
Fish 362
Fried Fish 147
General 292
Greengrocers 347
Grocer 869
Ice Cream 190
Public Houses 33
Provisions 726
Restaurants 929
Street Traders 72
Milk (Special Designations) Regulations.—Licences were issued as follows:—
Dealers Principal Licences—
To sell—"Pasteurised" Milk 38
"Tuberculosis-Tested" Milk 19
Dealers Supplementary Licences—
To sell—"Pasteurised" Milk 3
"Tuberculosis-Tested" Milk 3
Pasteuriser's Licence 1
All samples taken for bacteriological test complied with the prescribed conditions.
Sale of Food and Drinks in Public Places.—The Council, at their July meeting, decided to exercise, as from the 1st
October, their powers under Section 16(2) of the Food & Drugs Act, 1938, by which the vendors of any kind of food
or drink (except milk and ice cream which are dealt with by separate Regulations) are required to display their names and
addresses on their stalls, vehicles, etc.
housing.—During the year a further 635 dwellings were provided in requisitioned properties and 72 other families
were accommodated in temporary houses. The total number of families provided with accommodations is
as follows:—
In requisitioned properties 1,138
In temporary houses 85