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No legal proceedings were taken under the Act.
Evidence suggesting the presence of foxes was
found during investigations of rat infestations in the
North Ward, and later occupiers of houses in the area
reported that a fox had been soon. Information was
passed to the County Pest Officer, Middlesex County
Agricultural Executive Committee and a vixen and cubs
were token.
Only five premises were found to be infested with
bed-bugs, and all were successfully treated. The
verminous house is not the problem it used to be.
Infestations are not so numerous nor are individual cases
so severe. The explanation probably lies in use of the
improved insecticides and in a better appreciation that
such vermin need not be tolerated.
Twenty-three wasp nests were destroyed, for the
most part in situations where they were causing concern
to users of the public footpaths.
The Department received numerous requests for
advice and assistance in connection with other infestations
including ants, furniture beetle, moth, and the many
types of insect infesting foodstuffs or invading the home.
FACTORIES ACT 1937.
The Council administer certain of the provisions
of this Act, mainly relating to health. These provisions
deal with cleanliness, overcrowding, temperature,
ventilation, drainage of floors. And sanitary conveniences.
With regard to factories where no mechanica1 power is used
the Council enforces all these provisions, but where
mechanical power is used the Council's responsibility is
limited to securing the provision of adequate sanitary
conveniences, the remainder being enforced by H, K. Inspectors
of Factories, who dea1 also with the many other provisions
of the Act relating to safety and welfare.
The Council also have the duty of ensuring that
certain classes of factory are provided with sufficient
means of escape in case of fire and of issuing certificates
to that effect.
There are 76 factories of various types and sizes
in the district and at page 16 is a table showing the
inspections made during the year.
The Act requires occupiers of factories to forward
to the Council, twice yearly, a list of outworkers
employed in specified classes of work, and this information
enables control to be exercised over work carried out in
unsatisfactory promises or in conditions likely to load
to the spread of infection.
Notification was received of 53 outworkers who were
engaged in the following occupations
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