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Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933. This Act places upon Metropolitan
Borough Councils the duty of enforcing the provisions of that part of the Act which
relates to poisons in Part II of the Poisons List. One hundred and three applications
were received during the year for retention in the Council's list. In addition, 13
new entries were made and visits were carried out to premises of all listed sellers.
Shops Act, 1934. The Council, in its capacity as sanitary authority, has duties
under this Act of securing and maintaining sanitary and hygienic conditions in
shops.
The number of inspections made during the year was 940 and 16 notices for
offences under the Act were served.
Offensive Trades. During the year, the Council approved an application
for the renewal of one tripe boiler licence.
There is one other offensive trade—that of slaughterer of poultry, carried on
within the Borough, and the Council in 1948 approved the re-establishment of this
business.
Legal Proceedings. During 1949 it was necessary to institute legal proceedings
in 22 cases, in order to obtain compliance with notices served by the
sanitary inspectors. A total of 26 summonses were served.
Of these 11 were withdrawn or adjourned sine die, as at the time of the Hearing
the necessary work had been put in hand. Of the remainder, the Magistrate made
9 Abatement Orders and imposed fines and costs amounting to £18 15s. 6d.
In five cases it was necessary to issue further summonses for non compliance
with Abatement Orders. Of these, 3 were adjourned as the necessary work had
been put in hand. In the remaining 2 summonses, fines and costs amounting to
£17 2s. Od. were imposed by the Magistrate.
There were two summonses issued regarding the deficiency of meat in sausages.
A total of £11 3s. Od. in fines and costs was imposed.
Common Lodging Houses. These are licensed annually by the Borough
Council in accordance with the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
There are now only two licensed Common Lodging Houses in the Borough. The
number of inspections made during the year was 16. Details of the accommodation
available are as follows :—
Premises.
Accommodation (Men).
60, Beresford Street 50
102, Woolwich High Street 22
Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts. During the year 7
applications for the issue of a certificate under the provisions of the above Acts
were considered by the Health Committee and in 6 cases a certificate that the
premises were not in a reasonable state of repair was issued.
The Committee also considered two applications for revocation of existing
certificates of unfitness and authorised the issue of one such certificate on being
satisfied that the necessary repairs to put the house in a reasonable state of repair
had been executed.
Mosquito Control. Breeding grounds for mosquitoes are provided by the
marshland areas in the Borough. In Abbey Wood, the area nearest to the marshland,
considerable annoyance has been caused by this pest and extensive spraying
operations have been carried out on stagnant ponds, marsh ditches and allotment
holders' water butts, reducing this annoyance to a minimum.
During the year, fewer complaints were received than during 1948 when climatic
conditions were considered to be against the mosquito, and it is felt that the work
of the department met with considerable success. Routine spraying is carried out
every year in the early summer, as a preventive measure.
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