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sixth application was received too late for submission to the
December Meeting and, consequently, will not be included
in this Report. In two eases the certificates were subsequently
issued as the work required to be done had not been
satisfactorily executed.
In two cases where a Certificate had been issued to the
tenants the owners had the necessary work executed and then
applied for a Certificate that the premises were, at that time,
in a reasonable state of repair. After considering the report,
the Local Authority granted the Certificates.
In one case the owner's agent applied for a Certificate
that the premises were kept in a reasonable state of repair,
as the tenant was withholding his rent. On inspection, it
was found that one or two slight defects required attention
and, in consequence, the agent was notified that until these
matters had received attention the Local Authority was unable
to issue the Certificate.
Two cases were still being dealt with at the close of the
year.
I would point out that in all these cases it is most essential
that the inspections and reports are very carefully made
and prepared in order that clear evidence may be given
should the cases be the subject of legal proceedings.
The problem of the dirty tenant has always been one
which has occasioned great anxiety to officers of public health
departments, and the continuation of the Rent (Restrictions)
Act, has resulted in this being intensified. Such tenants know
well that the landlord cannot obtain an ejectment order without
the consent of the County Court judge, and these are
obtainable only for non-payment of rent (and in this respect
the order is usually suspended so long as the tenant pays the
current rent and something like sixpence or a shilling a week
off the arrears), for being a nuisance or annoyance to adjoining
occupiers, or as being convicted of using the premises for
illegal purposes. The knowledge that a landlord will generally
suffer the nuisance of a dirty tenant rather than be
put to the expense of applying to the County Court with little
probability of success, has made these tenants extremely
neglectful.
Water Supply.—The water supply was withdrawn from
43 houses during the year for the following reasons—15 by
request, 23 owing to arrears of rates, and 5 for other reasons.
Employment Agencies.—In October, 1925, the Public
Health Committee considered and agreed to the suggestion
of the Watch and Fire Brigade Committee, that I should
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