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granting the licence, the local authority must be satisfied that the animals
will be kept in accommodation that is suitable as to size, temperature,
lighting, ventilation and cleanliness; that the animals will be adequately
supplied with food and drink; that they will not be sold at too early an
age; that all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent the spread
among the animals of infectious disease, and that appropriate steps will
be taken in the case of fire or other emergency.
The number of licensed pet shops in the district is 15. All of them
were inspected during the year; the conditions were found to be satisfactory
in all but two which were dirty at the time.
Rag Flock
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951, makes it
necessary for any premises using filling materials to which the Act applies
to be registered with the local authority. There are four premises in the
district registered under this Act. The persons concerned use materials
carrying the Certificate of the British Standards Institution. In no case
was any dirty filling material found at the premises which were all inspected
during the year.
Marine Stores
In 1953 the Public Health Committee became responsible for the
registration of marine store dealers. This term includes the dealer
in old metal which under the Old Dealers' Metal Act of 1861 includes any
person dealing in, buying, and selling old metal, scrap metal, broken
metal or partly manufactured metal goods or defaced or old metal goods.
At the end of the year four persons were registered with the Authority.
Hairdressers' and Barbers' Premises
Section 282 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1944, enables a
local authority to make byelaws for the purpose of securing the cleanliness
of any premises in their district used for the purpose of carrying
on the business of a hairdresser or barber and of the instruments, towels,
equipment and materials used in the premises. Every person using any
such premises shall keep exhibited in a suitable place a copy of the byelaws.
There are in the district 125 such establishments. They are visited
periodically to see that the requirements of the byelaws are being complied
with; at most establishments a very high standard of cleanliness is
maintained.
CONTROL OF NUISANCES
The Public Health Inspectors keep under supervision various
buildings, water courses and parcels of land so as to be in a position
to take action to prevent unsatisfactory conditions arising.
Atmospheric Pollution
The activities over many years of the small number of people who have
been concerned at the extent to which the atmosphere was being steadily
Polluted aided by the dramatic effects of the smog in December, 1952,