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3. Action under Statutory Powers.
A.—Proceedings under Section 3 of the Housing Act, 1025.
(1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which notices were served requiring
repairs Nil.
(2) Number of dwelling-houses which were rendered fit after service of formal
notices:—
(a) By owners Nil.
(b) By Local Authority in default of owners Nil.
(3) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders became operative
in pursuance of declarations by owners of intention to close Nil.
B.—Proceedings under Public Health Acts.
(1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which notices were served requiring
defects to be remedied 207
(2) Number of dwelling-houses in which defects were remedied after service of formal
notices:—
(a) By owners 181
(b) By Local Authority in default of owners Nil.
C.—Proceedings under Section 11, 14, and 15 of the Housing Act, 1925.
(1) Number of representations made with a view to the making of Closing Orders Nil.
(2) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders were made Nil.
(3) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders were determined,
the dwelling-houses having been rendered fit Nil.
(4) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made Nil.
(5) Number of dwelling-houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Orders Nil.
Common Lodging-House, 116, Middlesex Street.—The above premises, which are known
as the "Salvation Army Working Men's Hotel and Shelter," and is the only common lodginghouse
in the City, was opened on the 7th February, 1900. It was utilised during the War as
a Soldiers' Hostel, but is now again in use as a common lodging-house. The premises are
periodically inspected, and always found to be well kept and in a generally satisfactory
condition.
Neglect to comply with Water-closet Bye-laws.—One instance of neglect in this respect has
occurred during the year under review. The offenders were communicated with and an
explanation received. Plans were ultimately submitted and approved.
Drainage Plans.—In the course of the year 230 plans were submitted with regard to
proposed reconstruction of water-closets or drains in the City.
Of these, 217 were approved; 4 revised and approved; and 15 not approved.
Street Gullies.—The gradual substitution of properly trapped gullies for those formerly
existing has greatly reduced the number of complaints received of offensive smells arising
from those appliances, especially in warm weather. In some cases this nuisance was doubtless
due to want of flushing, but in the majority faulty construction was the cause of the trouble.
The City Engineer has given special attention to this matter for several years past, and
his action in replacing the old pattern gullies with those of a more up-to-date design will,
I hope, eventually lead to a complete abatement of the evil.
Overcrowding.—Overcrowding is a nuisance to be dealt with summarily under Section 2,
Sub-section 1 (e) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and during the year three cases
were reported by your officers. On the service of the statutory notice of abatement the
overcrowding was discontinued.
Sanitary Defects and Infectious Disease.—In every case of notification of infectious
disease, the premises involved were inspected with regard to the drainage system, water
supply, ventilation, &c.; and of the 130 cases so investigated in 1920, it was found necessary
to make amendments to soil and waste pipes, water-closets, &c., in 71 instances.
House, Trade and other Refuse Removal.—The City Engineer informs me that the refuse
removed from the City in 1920 consisted of 22,532 cartloads of street sweeping sand slops,
and 45,022 loads of house and trade refuse, a total of 07,554 loads. The total for the year
1925 was 00,827. The use of the Destructor was discontinued in September, 1905, since
which date all refuse has been removed by barge from Lett's Wharf to the Corporation land
on Hornchurch Marshes, where it is dealt with. The horse manure collected from the street
orderly bins is not included in the above, but is dealt with by a contractor, who sells it to
market gardeners and others.
Legal Proceedings.—During the year, 309 notices have been served by the District
Inspectors at the order of the Sanitary Committee, and in no case was it found necessary,
in consequence of non-compliance therewith, to refer the matter to the City Solicitor.
Summer Flushing of Courts.—There are 101 courts and narrow passages throughout the
City which were regularly flushed during the summer months, under the direction of the City
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