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22
Complaints.
During 1952 the number of complaints received by the department was
1,936. One complaint from Hampton caused considerable excitement. Within
an hour, several telephone calls were received that the carcase of a cow had
been found on a grass verge in a quiet residential road. Immediate investigation
was made, and the carcase of an ox was found; there was considerable
putrefaction and smell; the flesh was infested with flies and maggots.
The police and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries were contacted
and it was confirmed that there was no evidence of foot and mouth disease
or other dangerous infection. In view of the serious nuisance, the consent
of the Chairman of the Public Health Committee was obtained for the immediate
removal and incineration of the carcase. Within a few hours of receiving the
first complaint, all that remained of this unusual "deposit" was an area ol
flattened grass soaked with disinfectant. I am indebted to the Borough
Surveyor and his staff for their splendid co-operation.
I believe the police suspected black-market activities, but so far as I am
aware the culprits were never found.