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of rents. Following inspections of the houses, twenty-one Certificates
of Disrepair were granted.
During the same period, the repairs necessary to put one of
the houses concerned in good repair were carried out and an
application was received from the landlord for a Notice of Revocation
of the Certificate of Disrepair. A Notice of Revocation was
granted.
Housing Applications.
Visits by the Sanitary Inspectors to applicants for housing
accommodation and the preparation of reports as to living conditions
was continued in 1954. The number of visits for this purpose
was 75, as against 117 in 1953.
The close liaison between the Public Health Department and
the Housing Department has been maintained in 1954, as in previous
years. On several occasions I have been asked by the Town
Clerk to advise as to the degree of urgency on medical grounds
applicable to particular applications.
Food Hygiene.
During the year, 1,567 visits were made to food premises in
the Borough as against 1,880 in 1953. As a result of these visits,
it was found possible to bring about improvements and generally
to encourage a higher standard of food hygiene.
No special Clean Food Campaign was held during 1954. It
will be appreciated that a continuous campaign has been carried
on throughout the year in regard to food hygiene, both during
the visits paid to food premises by the Sanitary Insepctors, and by
talks and film shows given by members of the Public Health Staff.
In my report to the Public Health Committee at their meeting
on 11th January, 1955, I submitted, for consideration, preliminary
details for a Clean Food Fortnight to be held in May or June,
1955. A full report on this Campaign will be included in my
Annual Report for 1955.
The Food & Drugs Amendment Act, 1954, which amends the
Food & Drugs Act, 1938 and the Food & Drugs (Milk, Dairies
and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950, received the Royal Assent
towards the end of 1954. The Act, however, does not come into
operation until a date fixed by the Minister. This date has not
yet been fixed. It is dependent, to a great extent, upon the compilation
by the Minister of regulations regarding food hygiene.
These regulations are awaited with interest. In the meantime,
however, our efforts towards a higher standard of food hygiene
continue.
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