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Insect Pest Control.
The arrangement whereby insect pest work is carried out
by the same staff as that employed on rodent control continued
with success during 1950. It is an economical system
which provides a better and more efficient service than would
be possible with two separate staffs.
Advice is given to private householders as well as
traders regarding the identity of insects found on their
premises. When some strange insect cannot be recognised,
the aid of the Entomologist at the Natural History Museum is
sought, and he very readily gives th© necessary information
together with advice on the best means of control.
Apart from the occasional cases of aged folk living alone
who are unable to look after themselves properly (and such
unfortunate cases are almost certain to recur from time to
time) there is a definite reduction in the number of verminous
houses discovered now, compared with a decade ago.
HOUSING
Section D.
There was little change to record in the general
housing situation in the Borough during 1950.
In previous Reports the need for a Housing Survey has
been stressed and this necessity is even greater now. There
is no need to repeat the reasons why such a survey should be
made. but it can be said that a true picture of the housing
situation throughout the country cannot be produced without
some such review on a national basis©
Despite the efforts of the Corporation in the way of
building new habitations, the shortage of housing accommodation
does not seem to become any less. At the same time, there is
no evidence of any considerable overcrowding of individual
houses in the borough. Many older types of houses which were
constructed to accommodate one family only are now housing
two or more families, but, unsatisfactory as this may be from
certain points of view, it does not follow that the houses
are over-crowded.
The most important present need is the demolition of the
worn-out small cottage type of houses, which are devoid of
modern amenities such as are being provided in the new houses
erected by the Corporations, and the replacement of these unfit
and decrepit houses by new units.