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system was selected and was installed during the year. The plant has
not been in use long enough to enable a full report to be made on its working,
but from results obtained up to the present time it is evident that
considerable saving in water and fuel is being effected, and the continual
supply of clear, bright aerated water is very much appreciated by the
bathers, as is shewn by a marked increase in their number since August
last.
In order to test the purity of the water which has been in use in the
Second-class Swimming Bath for nearly three months, samples have been
taken for analysis and examination by the Chemical Kesearch Association.
The results show that the standard of purity required under the
contract (which standard was fixed after consultation with the Medical
Officer of Health) has been reached. No B. Coli were detected in the
water in quantities varying from 0-01 to 200 cc.
The advantage to the bathers in having always a pure clean water in
which to swim needs no comment. I suggested the adoption of some
such system before the War.
Pulverisation of Refuse.—Another innovation is the erection of plant
whereby the refuse of the City is converted into a powder resembling
loam. I brought this question to the notice of the Highways Committee
also in pre-war days, but it was not then proceeded with. Difficulties of
removal from Westminster and disposal of the refuse in suitable dumps on
the banks of the Thames in its lower reaches led the Council to seek some
other method of disposing of the City refuse and very elaborate apparatus
has been installed and promises to be a success.
Cleansing of Telephone Instruments.—The Council had brought to
its notice by one of its members that telephone instruments and
telephone boxes were not kept in a properly sterilised and sanitary condition.
On enquiry it was found that the complaint did not refer to
public call stations, which are cleaned, and the transmitter mouth
pieces and receiver caps disinfected by a special staff of the Post Office
at intervals of three days, but to private installations in blocks of residential
and office flats, which the public are allowed to use. It was, therefore,
suggested to the Postmaster-General that where a telephone box is
allowed to be used by the general public, he should make it a condition
of the licence, that such telephone and appurtenances should be kept in
a sanitary condition. To this the Postmaster-General replied that in
those cases where an exclusive line subscriber elects to exhibit a sign
" You may telephone from here," only a hiring agreement is entered
into. As no restriction can be placed on the use of a telephone in a subscriber's
house and members of the public can always, if they prefer, use
a telephone at a Post Office or at other premises where an official call