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179
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
I visited the encampment on the nth September, but the
tents had been taken down and the tribe were removing out of
the Borough.
The owner of the land removed the whole of the offensive
matter which had been left.
Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting these
people removed, but the owner of the land, as soon as he
lealised what his responsibilities were, gave every assistance,
and thus facilitated their departure.
At the same time, another small band of the same tribe
rented part of a house and land in Southfield.
As there were only 14 adults and 16 children in this tribe,
the sanitary accommodation in this house was sufficient.
These gypsies also had no idea of sanitation, but eventually
came to realise that it was necessary for them to alter their
habits. The house was a large one, but several of the rooms
were in a dirty condition and notices were served on the occupier,
who rented the premises to the gypsies, and these notices were
complied with.
The Sanitary Inspector visited the premises three or four
times a week, and I personally inspected the premises on six
different occasions, as several complaints had been received
from the occupiers of the houses adjoining.
The complaints made were mainly of the noise produced
by hammering, the work carried on by these gypsies being the
repairing of copper utensils.
Eventually, after a considerable amount of difficulty,
the tribe were persuaded to leave, and the premises were vacated
on the 23rd December.