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64
In view of the difficulty of obtaining a suitable site in the City of London for the erection
of buildings to re-house overcrowded families, it has not been found possible for the Corporation
to provide re-housing on any large scale. So far as is possible in the dwellings provided
by the Corporation, any available accommodation has been placed at the disposal of overcrowded
families, and where possible they have been entirely re-housed if accommodation
permitted.
During the year all families occupying private dwelling houses, whose accommodation
was just sufficient at the time of the Housing Survey to comply with the standard laid down
by the Act, were re-visited.
Seventeen underground rooms which were being used for living accommodation were
discovered, and action is being taken to prevent their use for human habitation.
DISINFESTATION FROM VERMIN AND ACCOMMODATION FOR PERSONS TEMPORARILY
DISPLACED.
Consideration has been given to the introduction of legislation enabling local sanitary
authorities to provide temporary accommodation for occupiers of houses which are undergoing
disinfestation from vermin. At the present time there is no statutory power to provide
this accommodation, though such does exist in connection with persons temporarily displaced
during disinfection of their premises after infectious disease in the City. A shelter has been
established for this purpose, and should occasion demand, it would be used in connection
with disinfestation after vermin. Legal powers, however, would be a desirable addition
to the Statute Book.
PIGEONS.
The congregation of pigeons within the City area continues to be a source of nuisance
and damage, and it is essential that continual efforts be made in order that the number of
these birds may be kept within reasonable limits.
One of the difficulties in the City is the large number of nesting places which are more
or less inaccessible to the trappers engaged, and the tendency on the part of visitors to the
City to feed the birds. In this latter connection the Public Health Committee sought the
views of the Home Secretary on the possibility of legislation prohibiting feeding by the
public, and an interview was arranged with the responsible official of the Home Office.
The fullest consideration was given to the matter, but it was clearly felt that legislation
was not practicable in the circumstances.
In order to meet the expressed wish of the Public Health Committee that a greater
number of birds should be caught, not only has the contractor been urged to greater efforts,
but certain members of the Corporation Staff, who expressed their willingness to assist
in this matter, were detailed to catch and destroy on the same terms as apply to the official
contractor.
In all, 877 birds were caught and destroyed during 1937.
EXHUMATION AND RE-INTERM ENT OF BODIES AT THE CITY OF LONDON CEMETERY.
During the year, the bodies of five persons buried at the City of London Cemetery,
Little Ilford, were exhumed under Home Office Licences and subsequently reinterred in the
same cemetery. In accordance with the terms of the licences, the work of exhumation and
re-interment in each case was carried out in the early morning and under the supervision of
the Medical Officer of Health.
DISCOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS.
56/57, Farringdon Street.
In September a quantity of human remains was discovered in connection with excavation
work at the above-mentioned premises. In accordance with the usual custom, the
contractors engaged on the work were advised to ask the Home Office for a licence authorising
the re-interment of the remains in some suitable burial ground. The circumstances were
also communicated direct by me to the Home Office. In due course the Home Secretary
issued a licence authorising the removal and re-interment in Ilford Cemetery ; the licence