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Report of the
Chief Sanitary Inspector.
To the Corporation of Kingston-upon-Thames.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my Tenth Annual
Report on the work carried out by your Sanitary Inspectors
during the year 1928 in connection with the various Statutes
and Bye-laws relating to Public Health in force within the
Borough.
The total number of inspections during 1928 was 8,020
as compared with 6,986 during 1927.
On 432 premises sanitary defects to the number 3,314
were discovered. In connection with these defects 370
"preliminary" and 67 "verbal" notices were issued. In
25 instances it was found necessary to serve "statutory"
notices.
During the year 1928 particulars relating to the inspection
of 432 premises were added to the records, whilst 373
entries were struck off the registers following the completion
of necessary works. On December 31st, 1928, 348 premises
remained on the registers, compared with 287 at the end
of 1927.
Once again I have to report an increase (nearly 15
per cent.) in the total number of inspections and visits.
This increase was due partly to the work of food inspection
and to inspections of premises after service of notices, etc.,
but was also due to a special inquiry into well-water supplies,
assistance rendered to the Housing Committee, and to
investigations caused by the large number of cases of Infectious
Disease.
It must be clear that this extensive amount of work
could not be carried out during the ordinary official hours
and, although it has been done willingly in the cause of the
public health, it is only right to point out that it is a great
strain to work throughout the greater part of the year at
such high pressure. I invite your Council to compare the
amount of work carried out in this Borough with that of
other similar districts, and it will be found that your staff
is not adequate to maintain the standard which has been
reached. This fact was demonstrated more than once during
the past year when, by reason of the increase of infectious
disease and other unlooked-for occurrences, the work of the