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52
SANITARY SECTION 1955
This section of the Report relating to sanitary circumstances, housing, food inspection
and general routine work of the Section, has been completed by the Chief Sanitary Inspector,
Mr. D. G. Tonkin„ M. S.T.A.
The new Food & Drugs Amendment Act, which was passed during the previous year did not
come into operation until the 1st January 1956 when it was immediately repealed by the Food
and Drugs Act 1955, which also came into operation on the same date. The Housing Repairs and
Rents Act 1954 was responsible for a large amount of extra work in the department, much of
the Inspectors time being taken up with advising tenants or discussing with landlords items
of disrepair which might reasonably be included in Certificates of Disrepair. Details are
given elsewhere in the Report
There were no slum clearance areas declared during the year but housing work generally
continued to take up the bulk of the Inspectors' time It was found in ever increasing
numbers, that houses which had received the benefit of extensive war damage repairs were now
showing defects, and were the source of much discussion before necessary repairs were effected.
The staff position was more static during the year, Mr. E. W. Patrick left the service of
the Corporation in July and Mr. W. J. Batchelor commenced duty in December. A welcome addition
to the staff was made by the appointment of a full-time student Inspector, Mr. R.K. Raymond
filled the position as from the end of October. Various changes were made in the clerical
staff.
The public continued to make good use of the services provided by the department. In
addition to the 3,438 complaints received, a large number of people sought advice with regard
to rents, repairs, food and pests.
ANNUAL REPORT, 1955
(A) Inspections:
The number of inspection of all classes 30,077
(i) Housing
Public Health Act 6,975
Re-inspections 10,791
Housing Act, 1936 2,168
Smoke nuisance - observations 342
(ii) Sanitary Circumstances
Yards and passages 115
Drainage and sanitary accommodation 2,243
Drainage tests 195
Caravans 372
Offensive fumes 489
Miscellaneous 637
Factories (excluding bakehouses) 628
Workplaces and outworkers 712
Places of public entertainment 399
(iii5 Food Supply
Milk and Dairy premises 255
Ice cream premises 422
Food premises general and unsound food 1,729
Cafes and restaurants 249
Bakehouses 118
Itinerant food vendors and stalls 40
Sampling 592
Slaughterhouses 451
(iv) Diseases of Animals Acts
Visits 53
(v) Pet Animals Act 36
(vi) Infectious Diseases 55
(vii) Food Poisoning
Visits 11