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52
Council's Houses.—During the year the Council erected 300 houses, 6 on
the Page Estate and 294 on the Middle Park Estate. At the end of the year 208
houses were in course of erection on the Middle Park Estate.
Common Lodging Houses.—By the Transfer of Powers Order, 1933, the
licensing of these premises was transferred from the London County Council to the
Metropolitan Borough Councils. The following Table shows details of the accommodation
available in each common lodging house in the Borough :—

Bug Infestation of Houses.—In 1932 the Council decided that it would
take active steps to enforce its powers enabling it to secure the disinfestation of
houses infested with bugs and that it would, at its own expense, disinfest any articles
infested with vermin or likely to be so infested by reason of being used by any person
so infested, and instructed the Medical Officer of Health accordingly.
Many claims have been put forward by various interested persons as to the
efficacy of various disinfestants for this purpose, but from a study of the literature
which was available it appeared that sulphur dioxide, if used in sufficient quantity
and for a sufficiently lengthy period, was likely to be the most practicable disinfestant
when combined with a thorough cleansing afterwards. Other chemicals, such as
hydrogen cyanide which is said to be the most effective fumigant known at the
present time, were rejected because of the possible danger consequent upon their
use to persons occupying adjoining houses.