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Having regard to winter hours of closing, no local order
was made by the Local Authority under Defence Regulations,
the statutory hours of closing from 6th November, 1949 to 4th
March 1950 being 6 p.m. each ordinary day and 7.30 p.m. on
the late day.
E (8) Offices
At an office attached to factory premises it was found
necessary to implement provisions of Section 46 of the Public
Health Act, 1936, in consequence of which an additional W.C.
was provided for males.
E (9) Effluvia from River Thames
It was on 7th July that it was observed that obnoxious
odours were pervading the Borough, in consequence of which
efforts were promptly made to discover the cause. At the
outset, it was suspected that sulphuretted hydrogen gas was
responsible, as a result of which samples of both river mud and
water were submitted for chemical examination, the latter
indicating that the mud contained a sulphuretted hydrogen
content of 0.14 per cent. by weight. White chemical papers
impregnated with lead acetate which were disposed locally
were found to change colour to a spotted brown or black.
Subsequent investigation showed that the enamelled surfaces
of household baths and brassware rapidly decolourised.
During the whole period that effluvia were apparent, day temperatures
were in the region of 80 to 86 degrees F. and the wind
constantly at East or North-east, whilst the long absence of
rain continued to aggravate the situation. Communications
were made to the appropriate river and other authorities when
it was said that the matter was receiving attention, the condition
being attributed to sewage outfalls at Crossness and Barking
together with reduced up-river flow. With the resumption of
wind to the prevailing direction of South-west and the resulting
rainfall, the effluvia diminished.