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33
REGISTRATION OF HAWKERS
Hawkers of food and premises used by them for storage accommodation must be registered by the
Council (Section 11 of the Middlesex Council Council Act 1950).
Eighty-seven hawkers are on the current register (37 selling fruit and vegetables, 22 mobile canteens
and hot dog vendors, 17 selling ice-cream, 5 fish, 1 cooked poultry, 2 groceries, 1 fish and chips, 1 bread
and confectionery, and 1 selling milk drinks). Ten were newly registered during the year, but the Council
refused registration in one case without an appeal being made against the decision.
Some hawkers are also licensed street traders at fixed sites, but the majority are itinerant, many
appearing in the Borough only when events of national, or indeed international, importance take place at
Wembley Stadium. At such times there is also an influx of unregistered hawkers and reference has already
been made to prosecutions for lapses in food hygiene in this connection. In addition, seven hawkers were
prosecuted for trading whilst not being registered. Sixteen summonses were found proved on this count and
resulted in the imposition of lines totalling £29 0s. 0d. with £13 0s. 6d. costs awarded to the Council.
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE (Table 41)
Bacteriological specimens (swabs from sore throats, faeces from intestinal infections, cough plates
and post-nasal swabs from whooping cough cases, etc.) are examined by the Public Health Laboratory Service
at the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, and at the branch laboratory at Neasden Hospital.
Specimens delivered to the Health and Welfare Department and the Health Clinics are collected and
taken to the laboratory in Neasden Hospital. A report by telephone is given to the doctor as soon as possible,
followed by a written report.
Samples of milk, ice-cream, containers, and water are sent by public health inspectors.
The percentage of ice-cream samples graded 2, 3 or 4 was almost the same as last year. There were
five unsatisfactory samples of milk. Untreated milk from the offending source is no longer on sale. The
inadequate cleaning of ice-cream churns revealed by bacteriological examination has been the subject of
improvement.
One sample of water from swimming baths was found to be unsatisfactory and revealed a temporary
fault in the plant. Subsequent samples were satisfactory.
FACTORY INSPECTION
The Council supervise sanitary conveniences in all factories and, in addition, cleanliness, overcrowding,
temperature, ventilation and drainage of floors in non-power factories. Details of inspections and notices
served, defects found and remedied, are given in Tables 42 and 43.
BASEMENT BAKEHOUSES
There are no basement bakehouses in the Borough.
OUTWORKERS AND HOMEWORKERS
In February and August of each year, factory owners send to the local authority lists of names and
addresses of all persons who have worked at home for them during the previous six months on certain jobs.
172 were employed during the year, the largest number (123) altering and making clothing. Public Health
Inspectors inspected these workers' homes, which were all found to be satisfactory. (Table 44.)
NOISE NUISANCE
The Borough Council deals with noise nuisances under the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, which repealed
the noise nuisances section of the Middlesex County Council Act 1944. It provides that noise and
vibration which are nuisances are offences under the Act.
Public Health Inspectors have made 946 day and 16 night observations to determine whether complaints
of noise nuisance were justified or not. 173 complaints were received during the year of which 58
were in respect of noise from industrial premises, 61 in respect of commercial premises and 54 domestic. 179
complaints (including 8 outstanding at the end of 1965) were abated and 2 were still being dealt with at
the end of the year.
The noises objected to by complainants were wide and varied, and included those from factory
procesess, car delivery and repairs, unloading of milk churns, loudspeakers, "beat groups", and inconsiderate
neighbours.
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951, and Regulations of 1961, specify standards
of quality and cleanliness for certain filling materials which are used in the manufacture of upholstered articles.
Premises in which such materials are manufactured must be registered with the Council, and premises which
are used for storage of such materials only must be licensed by the Council.