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In December a complaint was received that ''Teddy bears'' purchased from a market stall
emitted a strong unpleasant odour which might be harmful to children. Three ''Teddy bears'' were
purchased and sent to the Public Analyst, the distributor was traced and agreed not to continue
trading until a report from the Public Analyst was available. The ''Teddy bears'' were filled
with polyurethane foam which smelled strongly of an amine type odour. This eventual ly disappeared
on exposure to warm air and was not considered to beahealth hazard, although the Public Analyst
was of the opinion that the ''Teddy bears" were unsuitable for immediate use as toys.
One sample of feathers failed the requirements of the Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials
Regulations 1961, in that the extracted matter exceeded 2 per cent. The Prescribed Analyst
observed that this may have been due to the presence of wet plucked broiler feathers from young
birds, which owing to their immaturity tend to partially dissolve in the test solution and
give an artificially high result. These circumstances appear to warrant an investigation.
Premises registered for the use of filling materials number 31, there being no licensed
premises. Seventeen samples of filling materials were obtained from registered premises during
the year and all were reported as satisfactory.
REFRESHMENT HOUSES
In connection with the provisions of Section 89 of the Public Health Act, 1936 and Section
80 of the Public Health Act, 1961 relating to sanitary conveniences in refreshment houses, 23
notices were served during the year requiring the provision of sanitary accommodation to comply
with the Council's standards.
REFUSE DISPOSAL
A stoppage of work occurred in the Autumn involving initially refuse collectors, but which
subsequently spread to other departments. No personnel of the Health Department stopped work, but
due to inability to obtain vehicles certain services were affected. During the stoppage the
Department's disinfecting staff were engaged on spraying with insecticide/disinfectant rubbish
dumps in street markets, on housing estates and refuse chutes.
The Cleansing Officer of the Council has kindly supplied some statistics relating to refuse
disposal for the year, given on page 117.
RENT ACT, 1968
One application under the Rent Act 1968 was received from a tenant for a certificate of
disrepair, which was issued.
RODENT CONTROL
In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
statistics on rodent control work for surface infestations carried out by the department during
the year were submitted to the Ministry. In this period out of 5,164 dwellings and other premises
requiring inspection 4,515 were found to be infested with mice or rats. Treatments were carried
out by the department's rodent control staff in 4,712 properties the charges for servicing
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