London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wandsworth 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]

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129
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
No statement of cost was received from Kensington, Shoreditch,
or the City of London.
In the Eastern Division of the Borough of Wandsworth where it
is wholly carried out by the Sanitary Authority, the cost of removal
per inhabited house is 7s., and of disposal 4s. 2d., a total of us. 2d.;
while in the Parish of Putney the cost of removal is 8s. 6d., and of
disposal 6s. 7d., a total of 15s. Id. In the Parish of Wandsworth
where removal is wholly carried out by Contractors, the cost of
removal and disposal is 7s. 3d. per inhabited house.
No statement as to cost of renewal and disposal was received from
Cardiff, Bradford, Derby, Portsmouth, or Manchester.
Wages Paid. In London the dustmen in the Eastern District of
Wandsworth have the lowest wage. 11 of the Boroughs pay 30s. a
week and upwards, four pay 24s. as a minimum, while 17 pay a higher
wage than the highest in this Borough, which is in Putney.
In the Provinces the average wage is lower than in London.
Birmingham and Glasgow pay 30s. and 31s. per week respectively.
Gratuities. In London no gratuities are officially permitted in
any of the Boroughs except Hammersmith. In the Provinces none
but Leeds; in Croydon and Harrogate there is no rule to the contrary.
Picking of Refuse. In Lqndon seven of the Boroughs permit the
dustmen to pick out saleable articles; 20 do not; in one there is no
rule; while in another (Poplar) if caught doing so they are dismissed.
In the provinces four permit the dustmen to pick out saleable
articles, 24 do not permit it, and in one (Dundee) if caught doing
so they are dismissed.
In Croydon the contractor pays 33s. per week for the privilege
of picking. The total receipts amount to £ 421 per annum.
In Leicester the sorting is done by the Corporation workmen,
the product being sold and half given to the men.
P. CALDWELL SMITH,
Medical Officer of Health.