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24
with inevitable disturbance to householders. The area would seem
large and varied enough to permit of a suitable compromise being
found.
Waste Food. Bins.
Complaints as to alleged nuisance caused by waste food
receptacles come to us in steady supply.
In normal circumstances "pig bins" represent a type of street
decoration which would not be encouraged, but the present circumstances
are not normal and if these bins are utilised sufficiently to
cause the degree of complaint alleged, they must be of sufficient
service to save a considerable amount of food. It is also found that
objection is frequently raised not on the grounds that such bins
are not required but that a site other than the proximity of the
complainant's house is regarded by the complainant as preferable
for a variety of reasons of varying merit.
The fixation of the bins, periodical emptying and thorough
cleansing, must be the points guiding our approach and the Surveyor
(in control of the Food Salvage service) is fully alive to the
problem and to the necessity adequately of dealing with it.
Disinfestation.
Infested effects are, where possible, cyanide treated.
Gammexane is used where cyanide is impracticable.
Considering the overcrowding which exists, known infestations
are not of high proportions. A close liaison is maintained with the
Housing Department so far as concerns Council property.
Ditches.
The district is liberally intersected by ditches which from time
to time tend to become occluded through natural vegetation, the
dumping of a variety of material, or both.
It would be unwise to generalise as to the degree of nuisance
or danger to health which subsequently arises as this depends so
largely upon the individual site of the trouble.
It- is in any event very often exceedingly difficult to allot the
responsibility for the occurrence and hence to take the necessary
remedial measures.
Children are very often blamed, probably rightly, for dumping
tins and so forth into a stream nearby their homes, but the extent
of the practice leaves little doubt but that their elders are not free
from blame in this regard.
The maintenance of ditches in a satisfactory condition is
undoubtedly a contribution to amenity to put it at the least, and
any adequate scheme for dealing with the problem would, therefore,
constitute in my opinion a marked advance in sanitation.