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Rag Flock.
In order to ensure the use of clean filling materials in upholstery, etc., premises
where rag flock and other filling materials are manufactured and stored are regularly
inspected, and samples of rag flock and filling materials are obtained for analysis.
One application for the renewal of a licence to manufacture rag flock was
approved by the Council during the year. There are three registered premises within
the Borough, where filling materials to which the Act applies are being used.
Satisfactory reports were received from the Public Analyst on a sample of
woollen mixed felt and a sample of unused felt sent to him for analysis.
The Analyst reported, however, that a formal sample of unused cotton felt
failed to satisfy the requirements laid down for this material in the Rag Flock and
Other Filling Materials Act in respect of the trash content (i.e., the cotton seed,
chaff and other impurities remaining in the felt after processing). The average
trash content of the sample was 9.3 per cent., whereas the permitted maximum
content is 7 per cent. The manufacturers of this material were warned.
Rag and Bone Bye-laws.
During the year the Council, on a report from the Metropolitan Police, instituted
legal proceedings in respect of an offence against the London County Council Byelaws
relating to the business of a rag and bone dealer. A man was seen in Rushgrove
Street, Woolwich, to exchange goldfish with small children for bundles of old
rags. A fine of 10s. 0d. was imposed.
Provision of Dustbins.
Since decisions in the Courts in 1947 and 1948 on the liability to provide a
dustbin, difficulties have arisen because these decisions did not establish any guiding
principle which would assist local authorities to exercise what has been held to be
a judicial discretion whether statutory notices under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936 should be served on the owner or the occupier of the premises.
In view of the present unsatisfactory position the Council decided to support
a suggestion that the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee should
seek a further amendment of Section 105 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
definitely to place the liability to provide, maintain and replace a dustbin on the
owner of the premises.
During 1953 in 16 cases where a notice requiring the provision of a dustbin
had been served on the owner, objections were received from the owners to their
providing the dustbin. Each of these cases was carefully considered by the Health
Committee, and in 14 cases it was decided that the owner ought properly to be required
to provide the new dustbin. Notices were accordingly served under the Public
Health (London) Act, 1936, on these persons.
It was necessary in four instances to institute legal proceedings against the
owners to enforce the requirements of the notices, and fines totalling £4 were imposed.
There were ten instances following the service of a notice under the Bye-laws
requiring the provision of a dustbin where the owner, although not objecting, nevertheless
did not provide the dustbin, and the Health Committee authorised the
sending of a cautionary letter to the owners concerned. Dustbins were subsequently
made available by the owners at each of the premises.
Offensive Trades.
There are two offensive trades being carried on in the Borough: that of
slaughterer of poultry at the Woolwich and Plumstead Synagogue, and the trade of
tripe boiler at the Garland Road Abattoir. During the year an application was
received for the extension of the existing Establishment Order in respect of the
business of slaughterer of poultry, and the Council decided to renew this Order.
The Council also approved an application for the annual renewal of the licence
relating to the tripe boiler premises.
Pet Shops.
There are eight pet shops in the Borough, and these are licensed annually by
the Council under the provisions of the Pet Animals Act, 1951, and are visited
periodically by the Sanitary Inspectors to ensure that the requirements of the Act
and the conditions under which the licences are issue are being complied with.
Thirty-one such inspections were carried out during the year.
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