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SMOKE ABATEMENT.
During the year 339 observations were made, resuiting in 17 nuisances being proven in
connection with 10 premises.
The policy adopted has been on the lines of offering advice in the elimination of the
nuisance rather than by legal action to obtain abatement, and this has been attended with a fair
measure of success.
It was necessary during the year to serve seven statutory notices with respect to tne
emission of black smoke for more than two minutes during a period of half an hour, as prescribed
in the Byelaw for the Regulation of the Emission of Smoke. Some trouble was experienced
through the emission of grit and gritty particles from chimneys in connection with three factories
in the district which gave rise to a number of complaints from persons residing in the vicinity
of the chimneys. In one case it was due to the change over from hand firing to mechanical
stoking, in another case the cause was the experimenting with different fuels during the initial
stage of a new boiler plant, and in the third case due to the use of low grade fuel. The department
was still co-operating at the close of the year with the occupiers of the factories in finding
a solution to this difficult problem.
The increased inclination to instal mechanical apparatus tends to eliminate the human
element in stoking and ensures more positive methods of feeding the fires, but this to some
extent is counter-balanced by the use of lower grade fuels which are prone to cause grit nuisance
if proper care is not taken.

Of the 23 verminous premises outstanding at the end of the year, 17 were premises in
connection with which demolition orders were operative.
There has been no change in the methods employed for freeing houses from bed bugs.
In the cases of very bad infestation of Council houses, fumigation is with Hydrogen
Cyanide and in cases of moderate infestation spray insecticides are used. All disinfestations
with Cyanide are carried out by a Contractor and treatment with spray insecticides is carried
out by the local authority. Verminous furniture is disinfested with Hydrogen Cyanide and
bedding, etc., is treated in a steam disinfector by arrangement with the Middlesex County
Council at their local institution, prior to the tenants' removal into Council houses.
Tenants of Council houses are advised generally by the Corporation's Housing Officials
with regard to the methods to be adopted to prevent infestation or re-infestation, but no specific
campaign is in operation at present.
In the majority of cases, houses, other than Corporation houses, are sprayed by the local
authority at the request of owners or occupiers with an insecticide solution of low volatile
properties—three sprayings over a period of twenty-one days is the average treatment. If the
bugs are not eliminated at the end of that period, the local authority may carry out further
sprayings or the tenant may be supplied with a small hand spray and fluid, and instructed in
their use. In a limited number of cases, resort has been made to fumigation in addition to
spraying.
Only in a small number of cases have owners, through the agency of their builders,
carried out the necessary disinfesting work.
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