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32
Rats.
No evidence of any major infestation of rats was found during the
year, though a steady flow of complaints was received. These related
mainly to “back-yard” poultry keeping.
The sites of the disused sewage farms and many of the watercourses
where trouble had been experienced in the past, were inspected regularly
and where found necessary appropriate action was taken. These sites
and watercourses are, as a result of being visited regularly, remarkably
free from rats.
It was hoped that it would be possible during 1946 to commence
the treatment of sewers throughout the district, but labour and other
difficulties prevented this materialising. A certain amount of preliminary
work was, however, undertaken and it is possible that the sewer treatment
will be completed during 1947.
Smoke Abatement.
There are few factories in the district with steam raising plant
which, during the year, did not experience trouble as a result of poor
quality fuel allocated to them, and the fact that engineers managed to
maintain steam pressure without the undue emission of smoke is surprising.
In one instance it was necessary to contact the Ministry of Fuel and
Power with a view to the fuel allocated to a factory being changed, and
this was done.
The definition of smoke is such that it includes ash, grit, and gritty
particles, and the incident referred to above was connected with the
emission of grit. The boilers concerned had been worked to capacity
during the war years with little or no maintenance, and in consequence
the stage was reached when it was practically impossible to fire them with
the fuel available without giving rise to a nuisance. After the fuel was
changed and the boilers overhauled no further trouble was experienced.
Factories.
There are 774 factories in the district, and during the year 307
visits were made to these premises. In addition visits were made to
the premises of 142 Out-workers, i.e. persons undertaking at home work
sent out from factories or business premises elsewhere.
The majority of these out-workers undertake work for firms outside
the district, in fact from as far afield as Scotland.
It is of interest to note that during 1946, 37 new factories were
added to the register; 24 were deleted whilst 22 changed hands.
Arising from the inspections made it was necessary to request the
provision of additional sanitary accommodation in 8 factories and the
repair of conveniences in 5 others. In addition, cleansing and action to
secure the abatement of minor nuisances was found necessary in a
further 24.
FOOD.
Inspection and Supervision of Food.
During the year, 1,890 visits were made to premises concerned with
the production, preparing or retailing of food. The majority of these