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in their unsatisfactory environment at any rate as far as concerns
rent. However kindly disposed the owners of property of this type
may be they seldom appear to allow their sympathies to obliterate
the desirability of securing some financial recompense for their good
feeling and to charge sums which are sometimes charged for the environment
in which some of these families reside makes the offer of
accommodation of this type a doubtful blessing.
Medical Aspects of Re-housing.
Some 209 enquiries were made during the year and advice as
to medical priority was tendered in some 332 cases.
Our present scheme permits of considerable discretion being
exercised in dealing with the medical aspects of re-housing and this
is at once appreciated by me and is at the same time advantageous
to the equitable working of the 'Points ' scheme generally.
Much of the medical evidence adduced is necessarily of so general
a character as to minimise it as a vital factor in substantially advancing
the re-housing of the patient. Where, however, unusual weight of
evidence is produced presenting a picture which is not commonplace
in the applications of most housing claimants, then re-housing can be
and is secured on a preferential basis.
It should perhaps be noted that although the majority of medical
certificates may not secure materially additional pointage, each certificate
requires to be and is thoroughly assessed and it is not necessarily
a simple matter to decide that medical priority should not be accorded
any particular application.
It will be a signal day which sees it possible for young married
people to obtain a house of their own without serving a preliminary
period often with their in-laws and without having to produce health
evidence in support of their wishes.
Land Charges Enquiries.
During the year 3,515 land charges enquiries were referred to the
department regarding the question of outstanding sanitary notices.
SECTION E.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
Food and Drugs Administration.
The sampling of food and drugs continued broadly on the basis
of our programme detailed in my 1951 Annual Report.
During the past year the Sanitary Inspector obtained 312 samples
of food and drugs (249 food and 63 drugs) of which 14 samples (8 food
and 6 drugs) proved to be unsatisfactory in one way or another.
The particulars of this work as noted below illustrate not only
the results of the actual sampling but the number and diversity of the
commodities which come within our field of supervision.
When one considers the large number of samples examined and
the various reasons for the 14 unsatisfactory samples which in fact