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Emergency Coal.—Only fifty-six deliveries from our stock of emergency coal were necessary in
1953.
Finance : Flag Day.—This very successful effort was held on the 12th September, and resulted
in the addition of £520 9s. 2d. to our funds. For this splendid result we have to thank its honorary
organiser, Mrs. Cedric Venables, and the special sub-committee who assisted her. We are deeply
grateful, too, to our President, the Mayor, for allotting the day to us and for the special appeals
he issued in connection with it; to all our members who helped us on the day or sold tickets for
the members' draw beforehand; and to the generous friends of the Association who gave the
prizes for the draw and who defrayed so large a proportion of the expenses.
In Conclusion.—It will be realised that all the extra office work of Coronation year was not done
by our Hon. Secretary alone. The Committee wish to express their deep appreciation of the
help given by Mrs. Venables in connection with the holiday scheme and the Coronation coach
drives as well as with the Flag Day; and by Miss Lewis, who for six months has given two
mornings a week regularly to the necessary clerical routine. But in expressing these remarks the
Committee are very conscious of the untiring and devoted work which has been undertaken by
the Hon. Secretary, Miss M. K. C. Macintosh. Her service to this Association since its inception
has never failed, and her patience and personal interest in all our old people's welfare in this
Borough has been a true example of very real "social service." The active support and interest
of the Mayor and Mayoress have heartened us throughout the year. The Medical Officer of Health
and the officers of his Department have been behind us at every turn. The Borough Council has
continued its generous provision of free office accommodation as well as promising an increased
grant in 1954. Finally, the Committee desire to place on record their gratitude to their Chairman
for the admirable way in which she has conducted their meetings and promoted the interests
of the Association throughout the year.
SECTION C.—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Sanitary Inspection.—The number of complaints received (excluding those relating to rat and mouse
infestations) was 1,247. Details of the various nuisances detected and remedied, to the total number
of 1,957, are set out in Table 3. In 675 cases a preliminary (intimation) notice was issued, and in 318
instances this was followed by the service of a statutory notice to secure abatement of nuisances. In
addition, forty-four notices were served under London County Council Bye-laws made under the
Housing, Metropolis Management or Public Health Acts, and one notice under the Borough Council
Bye-law for securing the cleanliness of water storage tanks.
Legal proceedings were instituted in nineteen cases under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
in respect of failure to comply with statutory notices. In each of two instances penalties of £2 0s. Od.
were imposed and £2 2s. Od. costs awarded to the Council. In another there was a nominal fine of
2s. 6d. and an order for the work to be done. Costs amounting to £2 2s. Od. without the imposition
of a fine were allowed in each of two other instances. Of the remaining cases, in nine the summonses
were withdrawn, the works having in the meantime been completed, three were adjourned sine die,
one was withdrawn after action by the District Surveyor and another dismissed because of insufficient
evidence of ownership. Arising out of the last-named case the Council requested the Metropolitan
Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee to consider the introduction of legislation conferring upon local
authorities the power, on similar lines to that contained in section 168 of the Housing Act, 1936, to
require information as to ownership for the purpose of serving notices under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936.
Legal proceedings under County Council Bye-laws were taken in six instances but all were withdrawn
upon completion of the necessary work.