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119
party immediately upon the discovery of any sanitary defect,
and supplying detailed particulars of the work necessary to
satisfactorily remedy the same. These particulars are frequently
amplified by verbal advice given on the telephone, at
the office, or on the property. Assistance of this nature is
much appreciated and results in sanitary improvements being
more readily carried out. The policy of specifying concisely
and clearly what is required also invariably leads to the attainment
of a higher standard of work.
With reference to clerical work, it may be specially mentioned
that, in dealing with the 2,449 nuisances which were
discovered, it was only needful to serve 68 "Statutory" notices.
The aim of the department is to mainly rely on ordinary
correspondence as a means of communicating to owners the
existence of defects on their property, rather than the service
of formal notices, and I believe this system tends to remove
rather than create opposition.
The sanitary condition of a large number of houses and
other premises has been much improved without the necessity
of specially reporting the facte to the Public Health Committee,
but particulars of all sanitary improvements effected
during the year are embodied, as far as possible, in this report.
The execution of all works undertaken for the suppression
or removal of nuisances, whether it be a small matter of
repair or reconstructional work involving considerable expense,
is carried out under the supervision of your Inspectors,
this arrangement being in accordance with the instructions of
your Council, and the Order of the Local Government Board.
In addition to the matters mentioned in this report, a
considerable amount of the time of your sanitary staff is of
necessity taken up with clerical routine, interviews and other
administrative work that does not call for special comment.