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8
CHIEF SANITARY INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
Council Offices,
Feltham,
Middlesex.
October, 1946.
To Dr. F. H. Woods, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.,
Medical Officer of Health,
Sir,
I beg to present a report upon the work of the
department which I administer.
Although now retired, Mr. R. J. Rowdon held office
as Chief Sanitary Inspector during 1945.
A considerable amount of the time of the Sanitary
Inspectors and clerical staff continued to be occupied by
duties arising out of the national emergency, including,
to mention but two, work in connection with the repair
and maintenance of properties requisitioned by the
Council under the Defence Regulations and the administration
of the Food Decontamination Service. Happily
this latter service was not called upon, but I believe it
would have proved efficient had a threat to our food
supplies by the use of poison gas developed and I should
like to take this opportunity to thank that small band
of volunteers from among the local food tradesmen who
so cheerfully gave of their time and energies.
Due to the severe shortage of houses, overcrowding
increased and some very bad cases came to my notice.
The details of such cases were reported for the consideration
of the Housing Committee.
Our efforts in connection with the repair of dwellinghouses
was considerably hampered by the shortage of
building labour and materials. It was necessary to
concentrate upon the most urgent defects, other works,
necessary though they often were, had to be deferred.