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(E) Drainage
There were 536 complaints received during the year of choked or defective drains, as compared
with 589 the previous year. The majority of the repair work is still carried out by the Corporation
contractors, under the direction of the Inspectorate, and by agreement with the owners of the properties
concerned.
(F) Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1926
Eleven samples were taken during the year, as follows
Hen Battery & Deep Litter (2)
Layers Pellets V.N.
Fattening Meal
Expeller Coconut Cake
Expeller Palm Kernel Cake
Bone Meal (2)
John Innes Base Fertiliser
Sulphate of Potash
Growers Mash
All samples proved satisfactory.
(G) Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951
Five samples were taken for analysis during the year as follows
Rag Flock (3)
Grey Black Fibre
Linter Felt
All samples proved satisfactory.
(H) Pet Animals Act 1951
There were 17 licensed pet shop premises on the register. Inspections of these premises were
carried out to ensure that the conditions of licence issued by the Council were observed. All conditions
were compiled with and no complaints were received.
(I) Factories, Workplaces, Outworkers
The usual routine visits were paid to these premises and conditions were generally satisfactory.
More attention was paid to building sites in the Borough and the sanitary facilities provided for
workers thereat. There was found to be a decline in the number of outworkers actually carrying on
work, though the persons concerned continued to be registered with their employers. Statistics are
provided in an early part of the report.
(J) Mosquito Control
Though the usual preventive measures were taken in the early part of the year at the known
sources of breeding, persistent complaints were received from residents in the area of the L.C.C.
main sewer bank during September. Liaison between this department and the L.C.C. engineering staff
has been maintained for some time and at our request cutting and firing of the long grass on the banks
of the sewer was carried out. Nevertheless complaints continued to be made and frequent investigations
and spraying was carried out. It was not until the winter months that it was learned that one of the
sewers had been temporarily blanked off leaving an accumulation of stagnant water with the result that
mosquitoes were able to breed there and gain egress through the perforated grids at the top of the
sewer. Arrangements were made for this department to be notified of similar work in future.
(K) Places of Public Entertainment
Conditions regarding sanitary facilities, heating and ventilation were generally satisfactory
but frequent inspection at the larger establishments is necessary to ensure that sanitary conveniences
in particular are maintained in a satisfactory state particularly during times of popular productions.
(L) Smoke Abatement
A preliminary programme showing the numbers of houses etc. proposed to be included in smoke
control areas in the following years was submitted to the Ministry, but unfortunately it was not possible
to make a start in the implementation of this programme. Particular attention was paid to the very few
factories which are guilty of emitting black smoke and adjustments in plant were made leading to gradual
improvement. Householders continue to seek the advice of the department with regard to the installation
of smokeless fires. The Local Authority objected to an Order made by the Minister which exempted