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53
SECTION IV.—SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
Staff. The sanitary staff consists of a Chief Inspector,
seven District Inspectors, one Woman Sanitary Inspector,
and two part-time Women Sanitary Inspectors. There are
two other Sanitary Inspectors who are wholly engaged in
Food and Drugs work and in the supervision of food.
Complaints. In accordance with the provisions of the
Public Health (London) Act, a complaints book is kept,
and all complaints, both written and oral, are recorded there.
Inspections are then made by the District Inspectors, who
take the necessary steps to ensure the abatement of such
nuisances as are found to exist. During the year, 2,589
complaints were received, compared with 2,536 in the previous
year.
Water Closet Accommodation. A system of sewers
exists throughout the Borough, except in the outlying districts,
where, as a temporary expedient, cesspools, and earth
closets are in use. The number of cesspools regularly emptied
by the Council was 26—12 being in Plumstead and 14 in
Eltham.
Scavenging. Scavenging, which includes the storage,
removal and disposal of house refuse and trade refuse, is
under the control of the Works Department. With very few
exceptions all house refuse is deposited first of all in moveable
dustbins, which are emptied once a week, and, in certain
parts of the Borough, twice weekly. Electric vehicles are
used for the transport of the refuse from its source to the
Council's destructor (which has recently been enlarged) at
Plumstead. The refuse, before burning, is subjected to a
preliminary sorting whereby tins and old iron are removed.
These are crushed in a hydraulic press and are sold. The