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out in 162 instances, and the Department was responsible for testing
all new drainage in connection with new houses built for the Corporation.
The week-end rota of drain cleaners on duty for emergency
work has continued to operate and has proved very useful on occasions.
(f) Factories, Workplaces and Outworkers.
During the year, 193 inspections of these premises were
carried out. This is a decrease in the numbers as compared with
the previous year, when a special survey of all factory premises,
etc. was carried out. As a result of previous inspections, many
of the deficiencies found in the sanitary accommodation and other
matters for which the Department is responsible were remedied, and
conditions generally tend to improve in these premises.
As in the previous year, the number of outworkers in the
Borough continued to be small as compared with the immediate postwar
years, and the majority of such workers were still engaged in
the manufacture or assembly of fancy goods. It was not found
necessary to prohibit any person from carrying out this work in
dirty or unwholesome premises.
(g) Mosquito Control
As in previous years, the Department carried out systematic
treatment of ditches and low-lying land in the Borough, but
probably owing to the fact that much of this land has now been
built on, complaints of mosquito infestation were not large,
although the Department did deal with one bad infestation of
mosquitoes in Council premises adjoining the stream area.
(h) Places of Public Entertainment
Frequent visits were paid to these premises, both with
regard to sanitary accommodation and general cleanliness, and
also, as Authorised Officers, in connection with the Council's
licensing regulations.
Complaints are very seldom received, but the managements are
found to be most co-operative in carrying out the suggestions and
requests of the Corporation staff.
(i) Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Acts 1920-1939.
There were 27 applications received from tenants for certificates
as to the state of repair of houses.
12 certificates were actually issued; in the remaining 15
cases, the necessary repairs were carried out as a result of
informal action taken by the Department.
(j) Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act. 1926
15 samples were taken under this Act during the year. 2
samples of feeding stuffs were found to be unsatisfactory. The
Agricultural Analyst reported that by reason of their constituent
parts, the samples were incorrectly labelled as Fish Meal.
Letters of caution were sent to the vendors, and position in both
cases was rectified.
(k) Rag Flock Act, 1911
5 samples of rag flock were submitted to the Analyst during
the year. One sample failed to conform to the Regulations.
This contained 130 parts of chlorine per 100,000 parts of flock.