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39
effort is therefore being made to arrange redistribution in order to
avoid the newer Estates becoming reserved for one particular class,
though much welfare work must be anticipated to overcome not
insurmountable difficulties.
"The re-housing of families recommended on medical grounds
by the Medical Officer of Health still continues to be dealt with as
rapidly as the appropriate accommodation becomes available.
There has been a marked decrease in the number of cases submitted
for consideration during the year, and there can be no doubt whatever
that very satisfactory results have been obtained by carefully
re-housing those families where one or more members are suspected
to be or actually suffering from tuberculosis. Especial care is
taken to ensure that such families are not re-housed in any way
as to classify the family, house, or block of houses as a reservation.
Slum Clearance.
"During the year 1936 only 14 houses and 8 flats were erected
and as a consequence it was not possible to complete the clearance
orders confirmed.
“These newly-erected properties were in many instances not
available as being inappropriate for the families awaiting to be
re-housed from clearance areas.
“The whole of the families concerned in the orders already
confirmed have, however, at the time of writing this report (April,
1937) with the exception of one, been offered appropriate accommodation.
The exception is a family requiring at least five bedrooms.
Abatement of Overcrowding Act, 1935.
"Although no houses whatever have been erected as yet under
this Act, 27 families scheduled as overcrowded have been re-housed
in vacancies arising on the estate during the year.
Eradication of Bed Bugs.
“Infestation by bed bugs is undoubtedly prevalent in houses
on the Council's estates, but I have no reason to consider that the
position is worse or better than in any other town.
"Various methods have been adopted to eradicate these pests
when found, either by virtue of an inspection, report or complaint,
that bugs are present. Tenants are invariably advised to keep in
touch with the Department wherever there is any suspicion of
infestation. Cases are followed up for a period of not less than
three weeks after first treatment.