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III. SANITARY CIRC UMSTANCES.
The improvement during the year, in the previous staffing
difficulties of the Sanitary Inspectors is reflected in a
considerable increase in the work of this section of the
Department. The number of visits 'and, inspections carried
out by the Sanitary Inspectors shows an increase of nearly
4,000 over the previous year.
A summary of the sanitary work of the Department will be
found in Tables 5 & 6 on p.52 & 53• Increasing difficulties
are being experienced in the.abatement of nuisances, as is
evidenced by the high proportion of Statutory notices to"
Intimation notices. These difficulties are due, no doubt,
to the rising cost of repairs, rents remaining unchanged,
continued deteripration of property, building licensing, age
of property, and the adverse conditions of the war years.
However, the Department continues to implement the provisions
of the Public Health Act as far as possible, as is shown by
the service of 1,499' statutory notices and 108 cases of legal
proceedings.
COMPLAINTS.
3,438 complaints were recorded in the register, but in
addition, numerous, complaints were made direct to the Sanitary
Inspectors and 10,127 visits were made in connection therewith.
5,340 intimation notices were served during the year.
DANGEROUS STRUCTURES.
The District Surveyor was notified on 199 occasions of
premises or parts of premises alleged to constitute dangerous
structures.
DRAINAGE.
1,707 drains were tested with smoke, of which 251 were
found to be defective. 7,432 visits of inspection were
made to drainage works during the year, and 1,137 drains were
cleansed or repaired and 1,902 constructed or reconstructed.
Observations were submitted to the Borough Engineer and
Surveyor on 141 plans of new drainage work and 40 Combined
Drainage Orders were made.
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