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23
Complaints.
As a result of the visits paid on receipt of the 1,036 complaints
included above under "Inspection of Houses," it was found that
669 houses exhibited some defect, commonly of roofs and gutters
or windows, some faults affecting drainage whether defective
sinks, waterclosets, drains, or choking of the drains; and defective
yard paving. Most of the defective conditions giving rise to
complaint would be remedied on drawing the attention of the
owners to the conditions, but in some few formal action under
the Public Health Acts was required. In some few instances
the premises are found to be in such an advanced state of disrepair
that ordinarily they would have called for action under the
appropriate section of the Housing Acts. Choking of drains—
which is cleared by the Council free of cost—arises mainly from
one of two causes, misuse by the occupants of the house, and poor
initial construction. From misuse, a variety of articles such as
scrubbing brushes, rat traps, toys, newspapers, tea-leaves, etc.,
find their way to and lodge in the interceptor trap of the drain.
In the case of a terrace of houses such carelessness may result
in the blocking of a combined drain with consequent very real
nuisance to a number of persons. In regard to the second cause,
the trouble in many instances is the result of cement protruding
through the joints of pipes or of pieces of cement having fallen
away from the walls and benching of the manhole of the drains.
Much of this trouble could therefore have been obviated if, at
the time of their construction, the drains had been "badgered"
and if the manholes had been rendered with better material and
with greater care.
The other complaints received cover a very wide field: 33
were in regard to the presence of rats. The procedure in such
cases is for the Sanitary Inspector to visit and inspect. When
there are conditions such as defective drains, accumulations of
rubbish, dirty chicken-houses or accumulations of foodstuffs which,
if not causative, are contributory to the nuisance, action is taken
under the Public Health Acts, apart from particulars of the
complaints being forwarded to the County Council's Rat Destruction
Officer. Many complaints are received in regard to matters over
which as the public health authority the Council has no control,
many the result of the behaviour by some without any consideration
for their neighbours. Complaints about such matters as the
lighting of bonfires in the gardens, the shaking of carpets or rugs
from the window, etc., have apparently increased since the
beginning of the war, a fact which may be attributed to the influx
into the district of persons who at their ordinary places of residence,
are more in the habit of invoking the aid of the inspectors. It is
particularly to this type of complaint that, because of the small
staff available, it has been found impossible to devote much
attention. In regard to the remedying of conditions, many of