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SECTION D.—HOUSING.
War-Damaged Dwellings.—Substantial progress was made, more particularly during the first half of 1944, in the
repair of war-damaged properties and nearly 9,000 dwellings were rendered fit for habitation. . Difficulties caused by
restrictions on man-power and materials were increased later in the year by additional demands for urgent repairs as a
result of renewed enemy activity. It was therefore necessary to augment the Council's labour resources by utilising
the services of building operatives from the provinces who volunteered to work in London and by taking advantage of
a mutual aid scheme with neighbouring boroughs.
Adaptation of Premises.—Shortage of labour and materials also curtailed conversion work in large empty houses.
Efforts were, however, made to provide a greater amount of accommodation in requisitioned premises by carrying out
the minimum repairs necessary to render the houses habitable. Properties thus conditioned formed part of a central
housing pool for accommodating persons rendered homeless by enemy action in the London Region.
Empty Properties.—A survey of all unoccupied premises was undertaken to ascertain their suitability for housing
purposes. In appropriate cases premises were requisitioned where no counter-proposals for occupation were received
from the owners.
Factory-Made Houses.—Application was made to the Ministry of Health for approximately 100 Arcon Mark V type
houses and negotiations commenced for acquiring sites for their erection.
New Blocks of Flats.—As part of the Council's immediate post-war housing programme, proposals were approved
for the acquisition of two areas—one in St. John's Wood, the other in the Lisson Grove district—comprising nearly
8 acres. The plans of the St. John's Wood scheme include provision for a branch maternity and child welfare centre.
Inspection of Dwelling-houses.—-Number of houses inspected for defects under the Public Health or Housing
Acts—1,287; number of inspections made—2,833; number of houses found not to be in all respects reasonably fit
for human habitation—360; number of defective houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action—357;
number of houses in which defects were remedied by owners after service of formal notices under the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936—25; number of underground rooms in respect of which closing orders were made—6.
Common Lodging Houses.—Forty-one visits were paid to the two lodging houses in the Borough: one, registered
for 436 men, owned by the Salvation Army and situated at No. 2, Burne Street and premises in Lisson Street; the
other, accommodating 100 women, conducted by the Church Army at Portman House, No. 10, Daventry Street.
Public Air-Raid Shelters.—The shelters continued to be used as sleeping places from time to time, and 331 inspections
were made by day and night.
SECTION E.—INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
Milk Supply.—There are 164 premises from which milk is sold. Inspections made numbered 251.
During the year 35 applications under the Milk (Special Designations) Regulations, 1936-1943, were received from
15 milk purveyors and licences were granted as follows: 1 pasteurising, 17 doalers' and 3 supplementary in the case of
pasteurised milk; 1 bottling, 11 dealers' and 2 supplementary in respect of tuberculin tested milk.
The average composition of the 105 samples of milk analysed was: total solids, 12.55%; fat, 3.69%; solids not
fat, 8.86%. No sample was found to be below standard.
Thirty-five samples of milk were submitted to bacteriological examination, and all were found to comply with
the Ministry of Health standard.
Meat and other Foods—Unsound Food.—Some 17 tons of food condemned as unfit for human consumption included
the following: meat (including bacon and rabbits), 6 tons 15 cwts.; fish, 1 ton 9 cwts. 2 qtrs. 22 lbs.; fruit, 1 ton
9 cwts. 3 qtrs. 6 lbs.; vegetables, 10 cwts. 1 qtr.; cereals, 9 cwts. 2 qtrs. 17 lbs.; canned goods, 10,679 tins;
miscellaneous, 1 ton 18 cwts. 1 qtr. Practically all this unsound food was salvaged and diverted to other uses.
Slaughterhouse.—The only licensed slaughterhouse in the Borough is that at the Zoological Society's premises in
Regent's Park. The slaughtering done in normal times is for the food for the animals in the gardens and humane
killers are used. Two inspections were made. One licence to slaughter or stun animals, granted to skilled slaughtermen,
was renewed.
Food Premises.—At the end of 1944, 109 premises were registered for the preparation or manufacture of foods (other
than ice cream) intended for sale, and 256 inspections were made.
Ice Cream Premises.—The number of premises on the register was 71. The ban on the manufacture of ict cream
was removed by the Ministry of Food on the 16th November, 1944.
Butter and Margarine Premises.—At the end of the year there were on the register 16 dealers in margarine,
1 wholesale dealer in milk-blended butter and 2 butter manufacturers. Fifty-one inspections were made.
Bakehouses.—Number on register—25, 19 being basement bakehouses; 81 inspections were made.
Fried Fish Vendors and Fish Curers.—The number of premises used by vendors of fried fish is 8 and by fish
curers 3. Thirty-four inspections of fried fish shops and 8 inspections of fish curers' premises were carried out.
Restaurants, etc.—Premises in which meals are provided or food is sold already cooked or is prepared for sale numbered
419, including restaurant and dining-room kitchens, 370; hotel kitchens, 49: 930 inspections were made and 69 notices
served.
Horseflesh.—Twenty-eight visits were paid to one shop selling horseflesh for human food.
Bacteriological Examinations.—Apart from milk, one sample of cooked pressed lambs' tongue3 was examined
bacteriologically and found to contain no food poisoning organisms.