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Generally speaking, there can be no doubt that children should be well-fed, but it would seem
to me doubtful whether it is necessary or even desirable for a child who gets a good breakfast before
coming to school and a good dinner at midday to have a lunch in the interval. Supplemental feeding
at school is only necessary where children are of a peculiarly delicate constitution, or where they do not
receive sufficient nourishment at home on account of the economic circumstances of their parents.
In these latter cases, which more particularly should engage the attention of the Education Committee,
one-third of a pint of milk although better than nothing can hardly be regarded as an adequate
additional adjunct to an insufficient dietary.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.
APPENDIX J.
For the consideration of the Health Committee (14/10/30).
L.M.S. RAILWAY SIDING—HARLEY ROAD.
COMPLAINT OF NOISE AND DUST FROM MECHANICAL TIPPING APPARATUS.
MEMORANDUM BY THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
(1) The site of operations and the complainants have been visited frequently since the 10th September,
1930, by the District Sanitary Inspector, on several occasions by the Chief Sanitary Inspector,
while I myself have also visited.
(2) The mechanical tipping apparatus in question is in the Urban District of Acton and approximately
150 yards south of the nearest property in Harley Road.
(3) The complainants are residents in Harley Road and neighbourhood.
(4) The apparatus is used for filling the tenders of railway locomotives with coal. The process
is as follows :—
(a) A loaded coal waggon is put under a waterspray and the coal is sprayed until the
water runs out of the floor of the waggon.
(ib) The waggon is pushed on to the weighbridge and weighed.
(c) A lifting gear raises the waggon and part of the weighbridge to a height of about
40 feet.
(d) At the top the waggon is tilted, the contents falling into a hopper.
(e) The waggon is lowered.
(f) The tenders of the engines are fed from the hopper.
(5) The noise complained of arises from the tilting of the waggon and the coal falling into the
hopper.
(6) The dust complained of also arises from the same cause.
(7) There is no doubt that noise is associated with the operation as described. This noise
is mainly caused by the coal being tilted from the waggon into the hopper. Comparatively little noise
arises from the filling of the tenders from the hopper and as this latter operation takes place at a height
of only about 10-12 feet, dust is not likely to reach the adjoining property in Harley Road as a building
about 20 feet high intervenes.
(8) Neither the District Sanitary Inspector, the Chief Sanitary Inspector nor myself have been
able to verify the complaint that dust blows from the apparatus towards the Harley Road area. No
high winds, however, have been blowing from that direction on the days on which visits have been
made, and in addition some of the days have been wet.
(9) Assuming, however, that the complaints both as to noise and as to dust are capable of
legal proof, the question arises as to what powers the Council possess for dealing with two such nuisances.
(10) As to noise. The only power possessed by the Council is that given by Section 56 of the
Middlesex County Council Act of 1930. To prove a noise under this Section, it is necessary to prove
all of the following propositions :—
(a) that the noise is either excessive or unreasonable or unnecessary ;
(b) that the noise is injurious or dangerous to health, and
(c) that the noise is capable of being prevented or mitigated, having due regard to all
the circumstances of the case.
(11) It is a good defence that the best practicable means of preventing or mitigating the noise
having regard to the cost, have been adopted. (N.B.—the provisions of Section 56 of the Middlesex
County Council Act, 1930, do not apply to the carrying on of an undertaking authorised by an Act of
Parliament or by an order confirmed by or having the force of an Act of Parliament).