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15
Out-Workers.
Eighty-six employers submitted lists in respect of a total of 819 out-workers (216 contractors and
603 workpeople). Of these, forty-nine contractors and twenty-two workpeople operated in the Borough.
The nature of the different classes of work and the numbers of out-workers engaged is indicated in
Table 13, page 35.
Fireguards.
Inspection continued under the provisions of The Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952. Of
the comparatively few heaters that were found not to comply with the requirements, the majority
were second-hand and the main fault was inadequate guards. In all cases, however, on receipt of
a letter pointing out an offence, vendors have immediately withdrawn appliances from sale, fitted new
guards and sought approval before again displaying for sale. In no case, so far, has it been necessary
to institute legal proceedings.
Hairdressers and Barbers.
The Council's Byelaws regulating these establishments came into operation on 18th December,
1955, and are reprinted on page 40. There are in the Borough 118 registered hairdressers and barbers
and 140 inspections were made. Conditions generally were found to be satisfactory.
Pet Shops.
The Pet Animals Act, 1951, provides for a system of inspection and annual licensing of pet shops
by local authorities, a fee of 10s. being payable for each licence, thirteen of which were issued during
the year. A few of the licensees keep puppies and other mammals for sale but mostly they deal in
cage birds, goldfish and tropical fish. The premises concerned were kept under observation by the
public health inspectors and the stalls licensed to sell pets in the street markets were inspected weekly.
Conditions under which the livestock was kept appeared to be satisfactory.
Poisons.
At the end of the year the names of seventy-eight traders were on the Council's list of persons entitled
to sell poisons included in Part II of the Poisons List (Pharmacy and Poisons Acts, 1933-1941).
Details of the premises concerned are given in Table 14, page 36.
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials.
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951, is intended to ensure that the fillings for
upholstered and other stuffed articles shall be clean and wholesome. Standards of cleanliness are laid
down in Regulations made under the Act, which also provides for licensing of premises where the
fillings are manufactured or stored and registration by the local authority of all business premises
where these materials are used. No premises in St. Marylebone are licensed for manufacture or storage
but ten premises, mainly those of upholsterers and manufacturers of cushions and pillows, are
registered. Samples of hair and other filling materials taken during the year complied with the
statutory requirements.
Public Conveniences.
The usual supervision was exercised over the public sanitary conveniences and urinals. There are
in the Borough nine conveniences and five urinals for men, and six conveniences for women. Staff
shortages and other difficulties were experienced during the year and in order to maintain the services
it was found necessary to leave some of the conveniences temporarily unattended. However, no
vandalism was suffered at any of these conveniences.
Now established in its eighth year at all public conveniences where wash basins are provided, the
free washing scheme, with paper towels and liquid soap, is still increasing in popularity with the
general public.
Public Cleansing and Salvage.
The Director of Public Cleansing has kindly provided the following information :—
"The materials dealt with in 1956 were:—house and trade refuse, 35,556 tons, street sweepings and
gully slop, 2,499 tons, salvaged materials, 2,089 tons. A sum of £11,151 was obtained from the sale of
salvaged materials. In addition, £1,320 was received for the removal of trade refuse and green offal
and for the cleansing of petrol interceptors.
From the 1st July, 1956, the Council, in common with other local authorities, were required to restrict
deliveries of waste-paper and cardboard to the mills, owing to the supply position, which resulted in
reduced revenue from this source,