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urgently required. Soiled articles are collected, and laundered
articles returned each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The
frequency of the collection and delivery is of the utmost importance
as the resources of the home in respect of bedding, clothes, etc.,
are inevitably stretched to capacity.
The service has worked well and the co-operation of the
laundry staff at the Barking Hospital, especially at holiday periods,
has been excellent.
At the time of writing this report 58 cases have receivea
assistance; 33 have died, 17 have been removed to hospital or no
longer require the service and eight are still participating. The
number of articles laundered is 10,189.
Dustbins
The Public Health, Public Cleansing and Finance Committees
met jointly to consider the question of the provision of dustbins
to properties in the Borough. The alternatives of providing dustbins
at an annual charge not exceeding 5/-, or of meeting the cost
out of the General Rate Fund, were investigated.
It was finally decided that the matter should be deferred for
the time being.
Atmospheric Pollution
Systematic observations continue to be made of the chimneys
of industrial premises in the Borough. In one case it was necessary
to serve a statutory notice; considerable improvement followed this
action.
For many years the Council have maintained an observation
station in the vicinity of Valence House for the purpose of measuring
atmospheric pollution. Recently equipment was installed at
the Civic Centre for making regular observations of the daily
average concentration of smoke, suspended impurity and sulphur
dioxide in the atmosphere.
An article dealing with atmospheric pollution and how the
individual citizen can help to reduce the pollution from domestic
chimneys was included in a recent issue of the "Dagenham
Digest " (published quarterly by the Council).
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951
There are two premises in occupation which have been
registered under Section 2 of the Act. One licence for the manufacture
and one licence for the storage of Rag Flock have been
issued.