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107
Inspection of Schools.
These are inspected with particular reference to sanitary
accommodation including washing facilities. During the year 14
inspections were made and defects found were referred to the
Education Officer.
SHOPS, Etc., ACTS.
The Shops Acts, 1912-1936, contain provisions for dealing with
the hours of work, closing hours and health and comfort of those
employed. Hours of work and closing hours have during the
War years given little cause for complaint. The health and comfort
of those employed is safeguarded in the matter of shop
ventilation, warming, washing facilities, facilities for taking
meals and suitable and sufficient sanitary accommodation, and
action has been taken in the cases where these fell short of requirements.
The Young Persons Employment Act, 1938, regulates
the hours of employment of persons under the age of 18 years,
not controlled by the Shops Acts. 339 inspections were made
and a number of infringements were found as set out.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS.
Drainage Work.
During the year there was no lessening of work in this branch of
the department's duties. The "flying bomb," whilst it had a severe
surface blast effect, did not pierce, as did the high explosive, and
ire consequence underground drainage was not so badly affected
as in high explosive incidents. Sanitary fittings above ground
level did however suffer considerably over a wide area. Some
3,600 visits of inspection were made to underground drains in
course of repair. With the stringent building works licensing
and the labour difficulties it has become essential to serve Statutory
Orders in all cases of drainage defects. Of these Orders a
large proportion have to be done in default of the owners. This
has been possible by employing specialist labour set aside for
this purpose. 497 Statutory Orders have been served to comply
with drainage defects during the year.
KEEPING OF ANIMALS.
There has been during the war a large increase in the number
of pig and poultry keepers. Byelaws were relaxed by Government
Order, but this did not relieve the keepers of providing
against nuisance. Little complaint of nuisance has arisen but
there has been an increase in rat infestations particularly at