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As a result of amendments by section 68 of the Housing Act, 1935, to the
Council's power to make by-laws under section 6 of the Housing Act, 1925, the
question of amending or replacing the existing by-laws in respect of houses let-inlodgings
has been under consideration. Owing to legal technicalities it was considered
desirable that new by-laws should be made under section 6 of the Housing
Act, 1936. These new by-laws will be based generally on the former code, but their
exact form is still the subject of consideration.
By-laws.
At the beginning of the year six medical officers and eighteen inspectors were
occupied wholly upon housing work and, except during short periods when a total
of twenty inspectors were employed, there has been no change in the number of
the staff.
Staff.
On 31st July, 1936, the Housing Act, 1936, received the Royal Assent. This
Act, which consolidates the Housing Acts, 1925-35, and certain other enactments
relating to housing, has effect from 1st January, 1937.
Housing
Act, 1936.
The programme of clearance operations adopted by the Council in 1934 embraced
a period of three years ending in June, 1937. At the end of the year 1936
therefore it was considered advisable to review the position as regards the progress
made in respect of the programme, and also to consider the addition of further
property now falling within the scope of the Housing Act. This review had not
been completed by the end of the year 1936.
Programme
of clearance
operations.
Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915, and Tuberculosis Order, 1925
Since 1st July, 1908, it has been the practice for the Council to take samples of
liquid milk arriving by road or rail from the provinces for biological examination
to ascertain the extent to which the milk supply on its arrival in London is infected
with tuberculosis.
Examination
of milk.
In consequence of the decision arrived at in 1934 that no useful purpose would
be served by sampling milk brought into London in large tanks on account of the
practical impossibility of tracing the farm of origin, samples are taken only from
churns known to have come direct from the producer.

The milk subject to sampling in 1936 was received from 26 counties. In the
cases where the sample proved to be tuberculous the medical officer of the county
of origin was notified and arrangements were made by him for the farm from which
the milk originated to be visited and the herd examined. As a result of such consequential
investigations 135 cows were dealt with under the Tuberculosis Order,
1925, as against 119 in 1935; in some additional cases it was reported that the
owners of the cows had taken action before the medical officer of the county concerned
made his inspection, and in a few cases no trace of tuberculosis could be discovered
in the herd examined. The increase in the number of cows dealt with under the
Tuberculosis Order, 1925, may be put down to greater attention to the matter on
the part of the county authorities to whom notifications have been sent.