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The premises now are vastly different to what they were in 1920—they
were then most unsatisfactory, with defective flooring and discharging all its
refuse into a ditch ; now they are modern premises, properly constructed, with
proper ventilation and proper disposal of refuse. This is one of the marks of
progress during the last five years, and it was a pity that the Council should
have had to invoke the aid of the Law to carry out such a badly-needed
change.
Rag and bone dealers give very little trouble; there are not many in the
district, and it is possible that it is not such a lucrative business as it has been
in the past, or perhaps out-door relief and unemployment assurance is respon
for the few numbers.
Flies are unpleasantly numerous each summer. There are two possible
main breeding grounds : one is our own refuse dump, a huge mound situated
on the eastern boundary, near the River Lea; the others are the many allotments
in the area, with their numerous dumps of manure, not necessarily
matured.
Knowing that flies are carriers of germs of all sorts, it is remarkable that
we do not get more summer diarrhoea in our midst; I am unable to explain
our freedom in this respect.
Gipsies and van-dwellers frequently cause a nuisance by settling on
vacant plots of land. They worry residents for water and their camping
ground gathers an assortment of organic material—horse manure, potato
peelings and other vegetable refuse, old rags, bones, tins, etc.
Towards the end of the year, a Special Council Meeting was convened for
the purpose of obtaining summons against a number who had encamped in the
vicinity of a large school.
Work carried out in connection with Infectious Disease.
The following gives an idea of the work done:—
Number of journeys of motor ambulance to remove
patients to Hospital 306
Number of journeys of bedding van to remove
infected bedding 310
Number of journeys of bedding van to return bedding 300
Number of journeys of motor bus to fetch patients
from Hospital 178
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