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SANITARY SECTION AID ROUSING
Mr.J.E.Austin, M.B.E. Chief Sanitary Inspector, has compiled this
section of the Report relating to sanitary circumstances and housing,
and statistics in regard to food inspection.
Emergency Work.
Circumstances arising from the war continued to dominate the
activities of the inspectorate. War damage in the four years of war has
demanded our unremitting attention to housing and environmental conditions.
It is hoped in a subsequent report to be able to include statistics
of such work done but in this report only brief comments are
submitted.
i. First Aid Repairs.
Considerable progress in the reclamation of housing had been made
in the previous year but final reinstatement of certain items of repair
had been deferred. During the year reinstatement of all glazing was
undertaken, and this improvement of natural light and ventilation proved
perhaps tho most satisfactory feature of the first aid repair work.
Unfortunately further damage occurred during the year, but the repair of
this damage had been substantially completed at the year end. Even
after a period of comparative lull the first aid repair service had lost
none of its speed and efficiency when damage again came and the 24 hours
immediate repair' service was maintained.
The labourhead on first aid repairs and supervised by tho Sanitary
Inspectors had still further diminished by tho end of the year. Tho
following figures are an index of the progress of the work:-
In May 1941 Labourhoad 3300
Doc.1941 do. 2500
Dec.1942 do. 350
Dec.1943 do. 470
The problem of latent war damago defects manifesting themselves
began to arise, but fortunately tho experience of the inspectorial staff
over many years and tho records of this department were of material
assistance in tho settlement of those problems. During the yoar a
gradual change of the tide of responsibility for housing repairs took
place and tho inspectorate were able to require normal maintenance to
be undertaken by owners.
ii. Essential Housing Repairs.
Difficulties were experienced in enforcing maintenance of housing
by owners who themselves were unable to obtain labour and materials, and
the introduction of tho schemo for Certificates of Essentiality promised
to prove of inestimable value in this connection.
iii. Emergency Drainage Repairs.
The investigation of damago defects duo to war damage continued to
occupy considerable time and a further 456 yards of house drainage was
reconstructed under supervision of tho department during the yoar.
iv. Emergency Water Supplies.
Further review of arrangements for emergency water supplies was
undertaken in conjunction with the Civil Defence Authorities. In ono
instance arising out of war damage, water supply to a housing area was
cut off, but this was reinstated in reasonably quick time. This incident
demanded however tho vigilant attention of the department.
v. Disposal of Civilian War Dead.
Tho few occasions when this service operated proved that the scheme
was well maintained.
vi. Removal of Furniture from War Damaged Housing.
During the year 385 removals were effeeted. Furniture Stores had
been reduced to three at the end of the yoar, and these were subject to
periodic disinfestation. Vehicles in use numbered three and staff
engaged on the work numbered ten
vii. Public Shelters
Despite the diminution in use the sanitary condition and readiness
of public shelters were maintained.
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