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3. Maternity and Child Welfare.— See Section H of the Report.

*14 of these were not in use during the period of the War.
There were no refusals, cancellations or appeals.
10 Inspections were made by the medical staff.
Routine enquiries are made with regard to unregistered homes.
No difficulties in regard to supervision arose.
5. Essex County Council Act.—No new licence to practice
chiropody was granted by your Council.
Four licences were renewed following inspection of premises.
C.—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Water.—The authority responsible is the Metropolitan Water
Board.
The supply has been satisfactory in quality and quantity.
Routine tests are carried out by the Board and the usual practice
was continued of notifying the Board in all cases of actual or suspected
enteric fever. The Board then arranges special tests at the addresses
concerned. All were negative in 1945.
No action was necessary in respect of contamination.
All dwelling houses in the area are supplied direct with water.
Public Cleansing.—Mr. Eric Bell, M.I.P.C., A.R.San.I.,
Cleansing Superintendent, reports as follows:—
' 'In reporting on the work of the Public Cleansing Department
for the year 1945, I would ask Members to note that although
hostilities fortunately ceased this year, very little, if any, effect
has been felt on our most urgent problem, the labour question.
A small number of our employees who served in H.M. Forces have
returned to duty in the latter part of the year, but in the main we
have had, as in the war years, to contend with an acute shortage
of suitable labour. I have no doubt that the position will improve
considerably during 1946, but for the present I have had to be
content with formulating the schemes for improving our essential
services as and when labour becomes available.
"In so far as the normal service statistics are concerned I would
report as follows:—
"House Refuse Collection.—The normal standard of a once