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would assure the water supply to the Board's area for at least a quarter of a century. In urging the
necessity for the reservoir, the Board felt that their case would be greatly strengthened if definite
facts and figures relating to the number of premises which have what might be described as poor
facilities for using water could be placed before the parliamentary committee. At the Board's request,
therefore, the Council supplied information on certain aspects of water supply in the Borough. It
was estimated, for example, that out of an approximate total of 21,500 dwellings (8,000 of lower wage
earning groups) 5,500 dwellings were without a hot water system and a bath. The ultimate aim of the
Council is to ensure that these facilities are provided in every dwelling but there is no statutory power
at present to require such provision to be made. On the use of water generally, the view was expressed
that with improved housing conditions the consumption per capita would rise ; that people should be
encouraged to use more water in the interests of health ; and that even in the hottest and driest
summer there should be no thought of curtailment of the supply either for domestic purposes or for
public use, such as filling swimming pools, watering streets, etc.
Drainage.—The number of plans approved was 378, of which 374 related to old buildings and 4 to
new buildings. The Drainage Inspectors made a total of 3,356 visits.
Combined Drainage.—Four orders under seal for combined drainage were issued.
Building Licences.—During the year 627 applications for building licences were passed to the Department
by the Borough Engineer for observations in relation to proposals concerning drainage, ventilation
and underground rooms, and also in cases where works had been called for by sanitary notices.
Public Conveniences.—The usual supervision was exercised over the 15 public sanitary conveniences
(11 for men, 4 for women).
In view of the need for all possible steps to be taken to encourage personal hygiene in the interests
of the public health and to prevent the spread of disease, the question of providing free washing
facilities in public conveniences was considered by the Council during the year, and after an experimental
period of six months at two of the main conveniences (both men's and women's sections)
where one free wash-basin, with liquid soap and paper towels, was set aside, it was finally decided
to extend this service and to make all washing facilities at public conveniences in the Borough
available to the public free of charge as from a date in 1949 to be fixed.
In order to provide for a reduction in the attendants' working hours from 47 to 44 per week as from
the 27th September, 1948, arrangements were made for the public conveniences to be opened slightly
later and closed a little earlier than usual, as a recorded census had shown that there was an exceedingly
small demand for the accommodation in the early morning or late at night.
Public Cleansing and Salvage.—The Director of Public Cleansing has kindly provided the following
information on these services.
The amounts dealt with during 1948 were : house and trade refuse, 32,742½ tons; street sweepings
and gully slop, 3,077½ tons; salvaged materials, 3,112¼ tons, including 1,937½ tons of kitchen waste
for pig and poultry feeding collected from 550 bins placed at intervals in the streets for the reception
of this material. A sum of £9,204 5s. 6d. was obtained from the sale of salvaged materials. In
addition, £774 7s. 11d. was received for the removal of trade refuse, green offal and the cleansing of
petrol interceptors.
During the year delivery was taken of four mechanical sprinkler sweeping collecting machines,
two of which were put into commission to work at night in the heavily trafficked streets in the Borough
and two on day work in the residential areas.
To renew the public cleansing transport, orders were placed for the following vehicles :—20
Pagefield "Paragon" refuse collectors; 4 Pagefield "Paladin" refuse container collection vehicles;
6 Karrier "Derby" type low loading machines for the collection of sweepings; and 2 Karrier
"Yorkshire" type vacuum gully and cesspool emptiers.
Shops.—Inspections under the Shops Act, 1934, numbered 227. In 19 instances service of notice
was necessary.
Diseased or Infirm Persons.—Two hundred and forty-eight old people living on their own were visited,
and the majority of the cases required continued observation. The domestic help service was able
to render valuable assistance in many instances. In one case Court proceedings were commenced
to obtain authority for the removal of an infirm person to hospital but the person died before an Order
was issued.