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63
Prior to the year 1890 the number of Sanitary Inspectors employed in the
Borough never exceeded two. In November of that year an additional Inspector
was appointed. This appointment was the result of a public enquiry which was held
by direction of the Secretary of State in consequence of serious allegations relative
to the insanitary conditions existing in certain localities in the district. In January,
1892, when the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, came into operation, another
Inspector was appointed, so that in 1893 the Staff of the Health Department included
a Medical Officer of Health, a Public Analyst, a Chief Inspector and three District
Inspectors, a Clerk and a Messenger for the office work, three Disinfecting Officers,
a Caretaker for the Shelter used in connection with disinfection, and a part-time
Mortuary Keeper. Early in 1896, in consequence of the small number of Inspectors
employed in the Borough as compared with the average for the Metropolis, the
adequacy of the Sanitary Staff again came under consideration, when two additional
Inspectors were appointed, raising the number to six. At this figure it remained
until 1912, when the subject was again under consideration, and the number of
Sanitary Inspectors was raised to eight.
During the period of the war, for reasons which need not be enlarged on, the
sanitary work necessary in the Borough became markedly curtailed and great arrears
accumulated. After the War these, in due course, came under the consideration of
the Borough Council, and at their Meeting on January 20th, 1920, the following
notice of motion was agreed to and adopted:—
"That there shall be conducted and completed within six months an
inspection of every dwelling-house in the Borough, and that the landlord
shall be compelled forthwith to make the premises fit for human habitation
in all respects as laid down in 1919 legislation, and further, that all derelict
houses be taken over by the Council at once and put into habitable condition."
That matter was referred to the Health Committee with a view to the necessary
steps being taken to give effect to the Council's resolution. The Committee reported
that it would be possible to comply with the requirements of the first portion of the
motion provided the words "as soon as possible" were substituted for the words
"within six months," and it was pointed out that the latter part of the requirements
of the notice of motion referring to derelict houses was already being dealt with by
the appropriate Committee. The Committee were of opinion that to carry out an
inspection within six months would require such an enormous increase in the Sanitary
Staff that they did not feel that it would be justifiable to attempt it. They were,
however, satisfied in view of the arrears referred to and having regard to the ordinary
sanitary requirements in the Borough, that a substantial increase in the Sanitary
Staff was imperative. To give effect to their suggested modification therefore, the
Health Committee recommended that five additional Inspectors should be appointed,
thus increasing the number to thirteen, that one of the Inspectors should be appointed
Senior Inspector with special duties as laid down by the Committee, and that the