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Thirty'eight visits of inspection were made to the premises out'
lined above and the following defective conditions were remedied: —
Want of cleanliness to Factory walls, etc. 10
Inadequate ventilation of Factories —
Ineffective drainage of Factory floors —
Insufficient Sanitary accommodation —
Unsuitable or defective conditions in Sanitary accommodation
2
Other matters requiring attention 9
21
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.
Richmond, being a residential town, has few large works or
factories, but the number of complaints concerning smoke emission
continues at a comparatively high level, and their investigation remains
an important duty of the Inspectors.
Twenty-five complaints were received during the year and twentyeight
observations for excessive smoke were made. Generally, interviews,
with managers and advice to stokers resulted in improved
conditions and no grounds were found to justify statutory action.
Many of the complaints related to factory chimneys which are set
among residential properties, and powers under the Public Health
Act byelaws limit action by the local authority to those instances only
where black smoke is being emitted. Despite this inadequate statutory
standard there has been a happy record of co-operation with factory
managements in reducing smoke emission to a minimum.
The Clean Air Act was passed by Parliament during the year but
had not come into operation by the 31st December. The Act will
strengthen the control which local authorities can exercise in reducing
atmospheric pollution, and it is likely that emphasis will need to be
given to this field of environmental hygiene as soon as the Act
becomes effective.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949.
The rodent control section of the staff have done much useful
work during the year in eradicating rats and mice from premises and
foul sewers.