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26,000. Nearly all of these inspections made were for the purpose
of investigating and dealing with complaints.
CLEARANCE OF INSANITARY HOUSES.
The 21 houses comprising the Cubitt's Cottages Clearance Area
in Garratt Lane, which was represented in October, 1937, have now
been demolished and the site has been utilised for the erection of
temporary houses.
Closing Orders were made on 33 basement flats in Larch Road,
comprising 102 rooms, all except two being underground rooms.
The Orders have been complied with.
RAT CAMPAIGN.
On the 16th July, 1946, the Council decided to participate in
the Ministry of Food's Private Dwellings Special Scheme, which
called for the systematic treatment by pre-baiting and baiting of
areas in the Borough known to be infested by rats. The Ministry
agreed to contribute 60 per cent. of the cost of the scheme, provided
a charge was made to the occupiers of business premises which came
under treatment as part of an area, and to householders whose
neglect causes infestation.
The Council appointed six additional rat operatives to carry out
the scheme and the}' took up their duties in December.
During the year 1,649 complaints of the presence of rats were
investigated and dealt with by the Council's rat operatives, who made
6,752 visits.
MORTUARY AND CREMATORIUM.
The Mortuary at Wandsworth was used throughout the year,
and 211 bodies were received there.
As Medical Referees under the Crematorium Regulations, 1930,
Dr. MacDonnell and I have authorised 544 cremations, which took
place at the Crematorium at Putney Vale Cemetery.
SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
There are four inspectors engaged in the supervision of the food
supply.
The number of separate food premises is 2,522, and during 1946
they were inspected on 27,785 occasions.
There are 124 registered dairies and 387 persons registered to
sell milk from premises other than dairies.
The bulk of the milk sold by retail within the Borough is sent
out in bottles filled in properly constructed dairies, and its quality
is good.