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32
SALE OF FOOD & DRUGS ACTS.
I am indebted to Mr. H. C. Card, Chief Food and Drugs Officer
of the Essex County Council for the following particulars of samples
purchased and submitted for analysis during the year:—
Milk. Butter. Miscellaneous. Total. Prosecutions. Fines.
68 62 44 174 2 £16
Proceedings were taken in the case of one sample of cream,
the vendor being fined £15. And one sample of coffee found adulterated;
proceedings were instituted against the vendor, who was
fined £1.
OVERCROWDING.
During the year a number of serious cases were reported to
the Health Committee, but owing to absence of suitable accommodation
within the scope of the wage-earners income nothing could
be done.
In one case proceedings were instituted. The magistrates made in
order to abate overcrowding, but, on an attempt to comply, confirmation
could not be obtained from the County Court.
Appeals against the decision of the Judge were futile.
IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING HOUSING CONDITIONS.
Despite much progress and general improvement as a resulte
of the activities of the sanitary staff, there is still very considerable
work to be done before many of the houses in the district could
by described as satisfactory, improvement lying in the removed
of unsatisfactory dwellings not capable of being rendered fit without
reconstruction. Every house in the district has separate closed
accommodation, and with 20 exceptions, a separate water supply
inside the premises. The question of overcrowding is still an urggent
one, and accounts for much discontent.