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greatly increased, and this undoubtedly has relation to the concentration
given to the poorer class property in the Borough, by the exercise of
Housing Act procedure.
It will be noted that the verminous conditions discovered remained
low, but in two cases the circumstances were particularly bad, and very
stringent action was necessary to restore the property concerned to
habitable condition. In both cases the inmates of the houses were
removed to Hospital, and one person still remains away. This, with the
co-operation of property owners, enabled us thoroughly to disinfect,
repair and redecorate the premises. It is pitiful to see the conditions
which self-neglect can induce, but the much happier circumstances which
now prevail in these homes which, when first discovered were littered
with the accumulation of years, infested with vermin, and occupied by
persons sick in health physically and mentally, makes worth while the
unpleasant tasks which fell to our lot in the early stages of the cases.
We continue to find many broken and defective drainage systems
resulting undoubtedly from war damage, and this will probably be a continuing
factor in our work.
Properties not possessing main drainage systems. The position
remains substantially the same as the details given in the 1947 Annual
Report. Five domestic properties have been connected to main drainage
during the year, where previously cesspool drainage only was available.
Proposals for conversion in respect of four other properties have been
put forward but no work thereon had commenced by the end of 1948.
Details to the 31st December, 1948, may be summarised as follows :—
Number of cesspools in the area 18
Number of domestic properties connected to cesspools 28
Number of sports pavilions connected to cesspools 11
Number of properties having earth closet or chemical closet
accommodation 7
(Not including moveable dwellings.)
Moveable Dwellings.
Six families occupied moveable dwellings under licence from the
Council during 1948. Frequesnt inspections were made, but no public
health nuisance was discovered.
Legal Proceedings.
Proceedings were commenced in eleven cases where owners failed
to comply with Statutory Notices served by the Authority. Where work
was commenced after the laying of the Information but before the date
fixed for the hearing the proceedings were withdrawn. In other cases
Nuisance Orders were obtained with the imposition of fines and /or costs.
In one case the Bench made a Nuisance Order, and fined the Owner
£3 0s. Od. with £3 3s. 0d. costs. The owner failed to comply with the
Order and the Court imposed a daily penalty of 5 /- for 32 days continuing
default plus £3 3s. Od. costs. The Council, exercising its right, then
executed the work, and instituted action to recover the costs from the
Owner.
Beef sausages which proved to be deficient in meat content formed
the subject of prosecution, in that the article purchased was not of the
nature substance or quality demanded. The defendant's were fined
£5 0s. 0d.
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