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The only change of any importance during the year was the reconstruction
into cubicles of a large dormitory at 28, Greencoat Place (Queen
Mary Hostel). This met a definite need for in spite of the increased price,
1s. 6d. or 1s. 3d. per night according to the position, the cubicles are
always occupied, the only vacancies being in the large dormitories and
very seldom in the small dormitories. A foreign agency for the supply of
domestic helps and servants uses Queen Mary Hostel as a pied a terre
for girls on their arrival in England, pending their transfer to situations
which have been found for them. The proximity of the hostel to Victoria
Station is probably the reason for the hostel being so used as these girls
are generally not of the type for which a common lodging house
normally caters.
Houses Let in Tenements.—The sanitary inspectors paid 4,841
visits of inspection to houses of this class, which number some 3,350.
The matters of concern are state of repair, water supplies, sanitary
conveniences, &c., the subject of notice in 367 cases. The existence of
overcrowding, unfitness of parts of the building, e.g., underground rooms,
are included in the Housing section of this report.
Rag-and-Bone Dealers.—There are 5 premises in the City in which
this business is carried on. They were regularly inspected during
the year, but no defects calling for special attention were found.
On a report received from the Commissioner of Police, a prosecution
was instituted against an itinerant rag and bone dealer for exchanging
toys for rags contrary to the byelaws of the London County Council.
The defendant was ordered to pay 2s. costs, no fine being inflicted.
A report was also received from the Police that two men had been
found distributing handbills outside a school in the City, intimating that
they would exchange toys, &c., for parcels of woollen goods. The Council's
solicitors, however, advised that there was not sufficient evidence to justify
a prosecution and warnings were therefore addressed to the persons
concerned.
Rag Flock—Public Health Act, 1936, Sec. 136.—There is one factory
in the City which comes within the provisions of the Act. Rag
flock is not actually manufactured there, but it is used in making up
material for mattresses, &c. One sample taken during the year was
found to be satisfactory, containing ten parts per 100,000 of free chlorine,
the figure permitted under the Rag Flock Regulations being 30 parts per
100,000.