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143
as woodwork has to be removed and several visits paid to each premises
in order to carry out the spraying. Twenty-seven gallons of vermicide
have been used on Council property, and as this solution costs approximately
5s. per gallon, the expenditure on this item alone has already
exceeded half of the amount estimated for the whole of the current
financial year.
The Medical Officer of Health considers that the Public Health
Department ought not to bear the cost of providing solution "D" for the
treatment of Council houses. With regard to the actual disinfestation,
should the number of "bug-infested" Council houses increase, as seems
extremely probable, the disinfecting staff will be unable to carry out the
periodical spraying necessary without interfering with the routine
disinfection following infectious diseases.
The supply of vermicide given to tenants should be regarded only
as a means for providing temporary relief while the owners of property
deal with the infestation.
Apart from the disinfestation, the question of following-up the
Council's bug-infested property is one which will have to be given serious
consideration, since the time which the Lady Sanitary Inspector can
devote to the visitation of Council property is limited and has to be regulated
so as not to interfere with the carrying out of the duties for which
she was specifically appointed, namely, inspection of premises where
female labour is employed, outworkers' homes, etc.
At the request of the "Special Housing Committee" this Officer has
endeavoured to visit all Council property once a year (and in addition
follows up those cases which need re-visits) and submits a quarterly
report, but the Medical Officer of Health would remind the Committee
that he has on previous occasions referred to the fact that with the
continued increase of accommodation provided by the Council, this work
' will not be possible without seriously interfering with her ordinary duties.
In addition to the periodical visiting of occupants of Council houses,
the Lady Sanitary Inspector visits all prospective tenants to ascertain,
as far as is practicable, whether or not disinfection is required. This has
entailed an additional amount of work.
W. ALLAN YOUNG,
Medical Officer of Health.
2nd June, 1932.