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9. MORTUARY.
The mortuary at Hampton has continued to function satisfactorily and the number
of bodies admitted during the year was 718.
I would like to pay tribute to the Mortuary Attendant, Mr. George Chase, whose
willingness and helpfulness are appreciated both by this department and also the public
who use the facilities provided, often under distressing circumstances.
10. NOISE ABATEMENT ACT, 1960
The number of complaints relating to noise nuisances has continued at about the
same level (65) as in the previous year. One such case concerned an alleged nuisance
from a cement works. Investigation showed that the noise came predominantly from
lorries loading ready-mixed concrete at the works, the vehicle engines being used to
revolve the drums into which the concrete was poured.
The firm was asked to consider the construction of screening walls around the
loading point and when this work was completed a marked reduction of the noise level
resulted. Apart from this a 9in. brick wall about 12ft. high was constructed at the
rear of the complainants' gardens bringing about a further decrease of noise.
Noise levels taken when the complaint arose were recorded at 57-58 decibels and
at less than 50 decibels after the screening works were completed, representing a highly
satisfactory improvement.
11. RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951
As recorded in the previous report, a sample of cotton/nylon wadding had been
submitted to the prescribed Analyst for testing in August, 1967. His report certified
the sample to contain 60 pts. per 100,000 of chloride which exceeded the permitted
maximum by 30 pts. per 100,000. Measurement of the chloride content is an accepted
method of judging the amount of excretal material (mainly from perspiration) in a
filling material and hence is a measure of the degree of cleanliness of such material.
In reliance on this Certificate proceedings were authorised against the manufacturers
of the filling material who countered with a submission that their own portion
of the same sample had been submitted for analysis and certified to contain only 23
pts. per 100,000 of chloride.
At the hearing the defendants requested the Court to Order the 3rd portion of
the sample to be sent for testing to the Government Chemist. This was done and on
13th March, 1968, the Government Chemist certified that the sample received by him
on 1st January, 1968, contained 24 pts. per 100,000 of soluble chloride. The summons
was withdrawn.
It is the normal practice for the prescribed Analyst to retain the residual materials
from their examination only for a period of six months and as this time had elapsed it
was not possible to carry out any further tests.
A letter was submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government suggesting
that it may be desirable for the Minister to consider advising the prescribed
Analysts that material submitted for testing should be retained by them for a period
longer than six months.
The Ministry while sympathising with this view, did not feel justified in taking
action on the suggestion as this was the first case of its kind brought to their attention
and they considered it was only an isolated instance where there was a wide discrepancy
between the findings of different Analysts.
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