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Not many complaints are now received concerning insects
which were once common pests, namely, bugS, fleas, and lice.
A number of complaints are received with regard to insect
pests in stored food products and those which cause damage
to textiles. Quits a number of complaints have been dealt
with and it is interesting to note that the new insecticides
which are now being developed have proved very satisfactory
in dealing with these insects.
With regard to cockroaches, use is being made of
insecticidal lacquers, and where treatments have been
carried out with this material the results have been
encouraging.
15. RAG FLOCK ACT, 1951.
There are in the Borough four premises registered under
the provisions of the Act for upholstering or bedding manufacture.
No samples of material were taken during 1955.
SECTION D
HOUSING
1955 was the first full year of the operation of the
Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954. In accordance with the
provisions of Section 1 of the Act, proposals were submitted
to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in respect
of unfit houses in the Borough. The Ministry approved the
Corporation's proposals to demolish within 5 years 96 unfit
houses within the Borough. Of this figure 16 properties are
already owned by the Corporation. In addition to the houses
referred to above, it is also intended to demolish all the
88 curved asbestos huts which were occupied at the end of the
year.
With regard to the other provisions of the Act aimed at
arresting the decay of the older types of rent controlled
property, it can only be said that in this respect the Act
has failed. The small increase in rent which is permitted is
not commensurate with the cost involved in putting the houses
into good repair. Therefore it is only in the case of the
better class property in fairly good repair that rent increases
have been claimed. The net result of the operation of the Act
in its present form, is to make good houses better and the
poorer properties which it was designed to gave, worse.
During the year thirty-eight applications were made for
Certificates of Disrepair and thirty-one Certificates were
granted. Works were carried out at twenty-six houses and the
Certificates of Disrepair were revoked. The number of Certificates
issued in the previous year was fifty-four and these
applications related to the four months period during which the
Act was in force. The small number asked for in the year is
an indication of, failing interest.
The action taken during the year under the provisions of
the Housing Act was as follows:-