View report page

74
Modernisation of Transport.—The scheme for the complete modernisation of the
Council's transport approved by the Council in December, 1933, is being carried out
over a period of four years, partly in order that each new type of vehicle purchased
may be thoroughly tried out under working conditions before further quantities
are purchased, and partly in order that the capital outlay may be evenly distributed
over a lengthy period. The "Mechanical Horse" motive units purchased in the
previous year proved very suitable for all types of work on which they were employed
and a further 17 have therefore been put into commission. The Refuse Collecting
Bodies and Street Washing Tanks designed for operating with these Units have also
proved very efficient and 18 Refuse Collecting Bodies and 11 Street Washing Tanks
were in operation at the end of the year under review. With regard to horse transport,
exhaustive tests having proved that this was more costly and less efficient in operation
than motor transport for the Council's purposes, it was entirely superseded by motor
transport in April, 1935, and the Council's stud of horses and vehicles disposed of.
The welfare of the horses sold was duly safeguarded as they were all taken over by the
Ada Cole Memorial Stables with the exception of two which were purchased by
Frances, Countess of Warwick.
With regard to the new type of all-metal orderly truck, of which 80 were purchased
in the previous year, a further 90 have now been put into commission and the old type
of wooden truck has been practically abolished.
Refuse Collection by Container System.—This system of refuse storage collection
has proved increasingly popular and demands for its installation have exceeded
the rate of delivery which could be obtained from the manufacturers of the Containers
and Chassis. Although by the end of the year under review 4 chassis and 167
containers were in operation there is undoubtedly considerable scope for further
extension in Westminster and, in view of the large number of hotels, clubs, public
buildings, etc., within the City and the continued erection of large blocks of flats, it
is impossible yet to estimate to what extent the Container system will eventually
supersede the ordinary receptacle.
Refuse Receptacles.—In connection with a general reorganisation of the system of
refuse collection throughout the City a house-to-house inspection of the types of
receptacles in use is now in progress. This investigation has proved that a large
number of occupiers of premises are not complying with the By-laws of the City
Council and the London County Council made under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891 by (a) not having any refuse receptacles at all and depositing their refuse
either in other people's receptacles or in parcels on the public footway; (6) not having
a sufficient number of receptacles; (c) using receptacles in a defective and dangerous
condition; or (d) using receptacles considerably above the maximum size prescribed
in the By-laws, which are too heavy for one man to empty. Difficulty is also
experienced with regard to lock-up shops, etc., where receptacles are put out on the
public footway in the early evening owing to the fact that the premises are not open
until 9 a.m. or later. Apart from the fact that this gives the streets an untidy appearance,
the contents of the receptacles are sorted by "totters" and the footways
considerably littered thereby. Although these difficulties are being overcome as