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104
are now 45 (47 in 1912) tradesmen on the books from whom
offensive trade refuse is removed. Certain soap firms collect
offensive trade refuse free of charge, and hence the fall in
numbers collected by the Borough Council.
The charge made for inoffensive refuse is Is. 6d. per
load, and 2d. per bushel, and for offensive refuse at the rate
of 3d. per receptacle, charged per quarter in advance on
the amount collected in the previous quarter,
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACTS.
30. More active steps were taken in 1913 under the
Housing Acts than in any recent year. 52 houses were
represented under Section 17, Housing, Town Planning, &c.,
Act, as unfit for human habitation, compared with 9 and
18 in the two previous years. 14 Closing Orders were
made, compared with 5 and 14 in the two preceding years.
26 houses were remedied to the satisfaction of the Medical
Officer of Health without Closing Orders being made, compared
with 4 and 4 in 1911 and 1912. In many of the
26 the houses were temporarily closed while the work was
done.
The following was the prooedure adopted: —
The Public Health and Housing Committee, after considering
the Medical Officer's representation, gave notice
to all persons interested that the question of making a
Closing Order would be considered at the following meeting.
When the owner attended the meeting, admitted the existence
of the defects, and gave an undertaking to carry
out the works required to make the house fit for human
habitation, the Committee usually accepted his undertaking.
In several cases where the owner disputed the