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11
Early in 1917, soon after the work was taken over by the Council, the Highways
Committee decided that saleable materials should be salved, and during the. year
1920 this was continued.
It is anticipated that when the plant is in full working order, the amount of
refuse, chiefly in the form of clinker, to be barged away as useless will not exceed
23 per cent, of the total refuse collected.
During the years the removal and disposal were carried out under contract,
close supervision was exercised over the w ork of the contractors by the Public
Health Committee, and to a considerable extent the arrangements then existing
were continued after the Highways Committee undertook the duty. The reports of
the inspectors charged with this work and the complaints and requests received were
considered by the Dust Sub-Committee of the Public Health Committee, at their
meetings, reports thereon being made to the Public Health Committee.
So far as the arrangements existing in houses, business premises, etc., are
concerned, it may be noted ihat the movable, covered metal dustbin is most commonly
found. Old brick receptacles are quite rare, the number demolished during the year
being 4. New metal dust receptacles were provided to 708 premises.
During the year the inspectors made 3,381 visits. The majority of these were
made by Inspector Hill who gives part time to this work.
For neglect of the provisions with regard to the covering of dust bins, etc., 174
notices were served. Remedies in each case were carried out, legal proceedings not
being necessary in any case.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE DISTRICT.
Staff.—During the year there were on the staff of the Public Health Department,
in addition to the medical officer of health, a deputy medical officer of health
(Dr. Jameson, who succeeded Dr. Prior after his resignation in June, 1920),
two drainage inspectors, one cutdoor superintendent, one meat and food
inspector, one house-to-hcuse inspector, six district inspectors, seven women sanitary
inspectors and health visitors, one chief and five assistant clerks and an office youth.
The keeper of the public mortuary, the matron and the one female and two
male members of the staff of the shelter and baths, the two disinfectors, the men and
women attendants at the underground conveniences, and the men employed in
flushing the overground conveniences, are also attached to the department and
immediately responsible to the Public Health Committee.
Nuisances— From the following summary some idea of the amount of work done
in relation to nuisances is given. For details of other works carried out by the
inspectors, reference must be made to the sections dealing with housing, food,
infectious diseases, etc.
In regard to nuisances, the first point to note is that the total number of
complaints received was 1,900, as against 1,588 in 1919. The majority of these
complaints were made by the inspectors themselves, the number from outside being
474. These came from voluntary workers of the St. Marylebone Health Society,
members of the Children's Care Committee, neighbours and others. In respect
of nuisances, 475 statutory notices were issued, as against 380 in 1919.
Of these notices, 326 related to ordinary nuisances (dirt, dampness, &c.) 82 to
verminous rooms, 40 to drains, and 11 to insufficient w.c. accommodation. The
remaining 16 were served on owners to provide a proper and sufficient supply of
water to the upper storeys of tenement houses, under the London County Council
(General Powers) Act of 1907. The number of such notices in 1919 was 12.
The 82 notices respecting verminous rooms were served under powers granted by
the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904, and referred to 159 rooms.
The number of notices in 1919 was 66.