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11
SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
Complaints. 1,763 complaints of nuisance were received. After investigation
the necessary notices for the remedy, or abatement, of the defects, or nuisances,
discovered were served.
Sanitary Inspection of the Area. During the year 25,209 inspections,
including re-inspections, were carried out by the sanitary inspectors. Included in
this number are 1,763 primary inspections on complaint of nuisances, and 368 on
account of infectious disease.
The number of inspections of factories, workshops and workplaces was 282.
Defects were found and remedied in 21 instances.
The number of intimation notices served was 1,163, and the number of
statutory notices, 194. In 16 instances, where the owners did not comply with the
statutory notices, the Town Clerk was asked to institute proceedings, but it was
not necessary to issue any summonses as in all cases the necessary steps were taken
on receipt of a letter from the Town Clerk.
Eradication of Bed Bugs. The methods adopted in Woolwich in this
respect have been reported on very fully in previous reports. Cyanide was used
for the disinfestation of seven loads of furniture. During 1941, 2,139 inspections
of verminous houses were carried out and the necessary action was taken. As a
preventive measure all infested furniture taken into store from bombed houses,
was treated with contact insecticides as the goods were moved in. The stores were
carefully inspected by an experienced inspector at regular intervals for some months.
As a result a bed bug problem in these furniture stores did not arise.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919. The number of inspections of
rat infested premises made during 1941 was 4,788, compared with 535 in 1940.
In 175 instances it was necessary to secure the repair of defective drains. Ninety
premises were made rat-proof and other effective measures were taken in 571 instances.
War conditions have made things easy for rats. There is much new harbourage
—around factories, salvage dumps and similar collections. Broken sewers and
drains provide easy exit for the sewer rat. Although much has been done to make
things difficult for the rat, much more remains to be done.
Housing. The total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects
under the Public Health or Housing Acts was 2,018, and the number found not
to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation was 1,112. The number
rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the sanitary inspectors (including
the service of intimation notices) was 921. Statutory notices were served in
respect of 147 houses.
New Houses. Only one certificate of a proper and sufficient supply of water
was issued.