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12
Offensive Trades.
Two applications to establish the trade of fish fryer were received during the year. The
applications were not granted.
The following offensive trades which have been established were kept under frequent
supervision :—
Fish fryers 9
Fat melters 2
Rag and bone dealers 1
The number of visits paid by the Inspectors to these premises was 76.
Keeping of Animals.
Much time of the Inspectors was devoted to the inspection of piggeries especially during
the summer and particularly in respect of one pig keeping and breeding establishment where the
business was of a somewhat extensive character.
Up to ten years ago, when a considerable portion of the district was rural or semi-rural
in character, the existence of piggeries, although well known to the officers of the Health
Department and under regular observation, was not a cause of complaint.
Now that houses have been built in close proximity to the sties, the odours and noises
associated with the keeping of large numbers of pigs have become the source of constant and
bitter complaints, and although the persons complaining were aware that the Corporation have
no power to cause the removal of estabished piggeries and although most of them were aware that
the piggeries existed when they purchased their houses, the complaints were no less loud and
embittered.
After the collection of evidence from the officers of the Department and persons living
in the neighbourhood of these piggeries, the Corporation decided to take proceedings under
Sections 41 and 91 of the Public Health Act, 1875.
The evidence brought forward failed to convince the Magistrates and the cases were
dismissed. Since then the conditions have remained as before, and it may be added the complaints
have continued.
Smoke Abatement.
In a district such as Twickenham, but little trouble is experienced from the emission
of smoke from factories, while the increasing use of gas for cooking and heating and of coke-fired
boilers has resulted in an improvement as to the production of smoke from domestic fires which
is remarkable to those who remember the conditions when the town was little more than half its
present size.
In one or two instances in which smoke was emitted from factory premises in quantities
which caused inconvenience to persons living in the neighbourhood, improvement was effected
without statutory action.
Swimming Bath.
The Public Open-Air Swimming Bath at the Embankment, provided by the Corporation,
at a cost of approximately £18,000, excluding furniture and fittings, was opened in May and
remained open until the last week in September. During the season, the bath was used by
78,327 persons.
Eradication of Bed Bugs.
The bed bug has attracted considerable attention during the year. It does not appear that
this harmful and unnecessary associate of uncleanly conditions is more prevalent than it has been
in the past, but the increased interest is probably due to the improved standard of domestic
surroundings set by the new dwellings erected by the Corporation, and as the level of personal
hygiene rises, the presence of bugs is no longer tolerated as inevitable by those who still live in
older houses.
No special measures have been taken by the Corporation to secure that the property
of entrants to new houses shall be disinfected before removal. It is estimated that 7 per cent.
of the Council houses are infested. No precise record has been kept of the number of houses found
to be infested by bugs. Where the existence of bugs has come to the notice of the Sanitary
Inspectors, advice has been given to the occupiers of the infested dwellings and spraying apparatus
and disinfesting solution have been lent free of charge. No large scale measures have been
taken and no measures of disinfestation by cyanide gas have been employed.
Schools.
The sanitary conveniences, water supplies and lavatories of each school in the Borough
were inspected quarterly throughout the year, and with the exception of minor defects were
found to be satisfactory.