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45
SANITARY SECTION
This section of the report relating to sanitary circumstances, housing, food inspection, clean air
and general routine work of the section has been completed by the Chief Public Health Inspector, Mr. D.G.;
Tonkin, M.P.H.I.A.
Throughout the period, the Department still suffered a shortage of technical staff, and although one
student qualified and another young inspector was appointed in 1960, at the end of the period there remained a
shortage of one Inspector on the establishment and in view of the extra work involved by new legislation plus
increased housing work and various matters of complaint, a severe strain was placed upon the remaining staff.
The year 1961 will be remembered along the High Streets for the most offensive smells caused by
the conveyance through the Town of crude sewage in tankers from a large sewage works in Mid Essex, which
suffered a breakdown in the treatment process, to the Northern Outfall Works in the south of the Borough. After
the nuisance had persisted for two weeks, the Committee instructed that continual daily observation be kept
along the route. 355 tankers were logged during the periods 9.0 a.m. to 5.0 p.m. Monday to Saturday. As
a result 20 prosecutions were instituted and fines totalling £127 were imposed.
A further item of particular interest concerned the fish content of a product called "Mock Salmon
cutlets". The Public Analyst certified that in his opinion, mock salmon cutlets should contain a substantial
proportion of fish protein. The sample analysed by him contained only 33%, whereas an ordinary fish cake
was required to contain 35% fish, by the Fish Cakes Order 1950. As the cutlets were not covered by the Order,
the Magistrate declined to fix a standard and dismissed the case. An appeal was entered in the High Court,
as a result of which the Judges referred the case back to the Magistrate with an instruction to convict, and the
matter became Case Law.
It is only by persistent sampling of foodstuffs that the public are safeguarded against unscrupulous
manufacturing processes.
Inspections of over 400 houses in the Boleyn area were completed during the year and the necessary
official representations to effect clearance were submitted in 1962.