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hygiene. In fact the facilities now provided tend to discourage whatever
instinctive principles a child may have. Persistent endeavour is
now being made throughout the country to institute proper facilities in
restaurant kitchens and all food premises to enable staffs to maintain
personal cleanliness, and to educate the workers to achieve this object.
One person's ignorant neglect in this matter may cause numbers of people
to suffer illness. This has amply been demonstrated on many occasions
in recent times (once in Beckenham) and accordingly all support to the
present clean food campaign must be given. It should really not be
necessary to lecture and supervise adults in matters of this nature, but
attention should be directed to giving such education to the child. Yet
how infrequently are the wash basins in schools used, and indeed how fat
removed they usually are from other sanitary conveniences in the School.
Certainly the planners of the older school buildings paid little attention
to the association of hand washing with other toilet necessities. Tie
greatest co-operation has, however, been received from all School
teachers in Beckenham, and from the Officials of the Education
Authority, in an endeavour to teach the child these simple principles,
but it must be said that the task is difficult.
Food Wrapping.
A Local Authority has power to make byelaws as to the handling
and wrapping of food in accordance with the provisions of the Food and
Drugs Act, 1938, but the Council has not, so far, made such byelaws
in Beckenham. Circumstances caused by the shortage of paper and the
control of its allocation have tended to allow food stuffs to be inadequately
wrapped and many complaints were received from housewives, particularly
in relation to the sale of wet fish. The majority of our fishmongers
now use an initial wrapping of clean paper, and the Public
Health Committee made no recommendation for the making of byelaws.
It was decided, therefore, to communicate with all fishmongers
in the area seeking full co-operation. The response was satisfactory.
Rat Infestation.
Routine measures for rat repression have continued throughout
the year under review. Whilst we may claim that the intensity of
infestation has considerably decreased, the nuisance is still widespread,
and there are very few areas of the Borough from which complaints
have not been received. This is a disappointing feature to report.
There is no doubt that the increased practice of poultry keeping
(apparently a very necessary feature of our present day life) plays its
part in maintaining the nuisance at a steady level, added to which we have
the many small and unofficial refuse dumps which litter our town.
Nevertheless we find that by immediate action we have been able
to prevent any severe intensity of infestation arising such as has formed
the subject of report in previous years.
In presenting this report of the work of the Sanitary Inspectors,
I am very conscious of the helpful advice given to me throughout the year
by the Medical Officer of Health ; whilst to my immediate colleagues
I renew my thanks for the loyal co-operation and assistance which they
so readily offered.
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