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VI.
Housing conditions in the town still remain unsatisfactory.
There is a great dearth of accommodation, and it has not been
practicable to take any action under the Public Health or Housing
Acts other than the enforcement of urgent work to make premises
habitable and to remedy serious nuisances.
This does not mean that a close watch has not been kept
upon housing conditions. The fact that 8,566 houses were
inspected for housing defects, as compared with 1,320 in 1944, is
evidence of this. Of these 8,141 were found to be not in all
respects fit for human habitation. 3,904 unfit houses were
rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Local
Authority.
Close attention has been paid by the Sanitary Inspectors to
the quality of Food Supplies, and to the premises from which
food for human consumption is sold, including catering establishments.
Especial watch has been kept upon the chemical and
especially the bacteriological purity of milk supplies. There has
been a decline in the bacteriological standard of pasteurised milk,
which has been disappointing, but which is probably due to
deterioration of pasteurising plants during the war years and the
impossibility of obtaining renewals or new apparatus. Ice cream
has also come under close review since its manufacture again was
permitted. Possibly owing to circumstances arising out of six
years of war, neither the quality nor the cleanliness of this article
of food is up to pre-war levels.
Three hundred and seventy samples of milk were submitted
for bacteriological examination, and 250 for chemical analysis.
549 samples of various other kinds of food under the Food and
Drugs Act, 1938, were submitted to the Public Analyst, and of
these 15 were found to be not genuine.
In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to express my
thanks to the staff of the Department for the co-operative and
conscientious way in which they have performed the many and
varied duties laid upon them during a difficult and exacting year.
From the Chairman and Members of the Committee I have
received every help, encouragement and support, and to them I
am sincerely grateful.
I am,
Yours faithfully,
OSCAR M. HOLDEN,
Medical Officer of Health.