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Common Lodging Houses.
There arc nine Common Lodging Houses in the Borough,
three in the North and six in the South. Most of these were
originally constructed and used for ordinary dwelling houses, but
have been altered so as to conform with the requirements of the
Council's Bye-Laws dealing with Common Lodging Houses.
The total number of beds at these premises is 525.
Supervision is kept by the Sanitary Inspectors on these
houses, and the number of visits made during the year was 24.
No application was received for registration of new
premises.
Houses Let in Lodgings.
Bye-Laws are now being reviewed in respect of this question.
Rag Flock Acts 1911 and 1928.
There are three makers of Rag Flock in the Borough. The
premises are visited regularly by the Sanitary Inspectors. There
are also a number of premises where flock is used in the making
of furniture and bedding.
Forty-five samples were taken during the year. Of this number
six, upon analysis, were found not to conform to the requirements
of the above-mentioned Acts. In three cases prosecutions
were instituted against the offenders, and in the three other cases
letters of warning were sent. In one case the firm prosecuted took
proceedings against the wholesaler.
Investigation has been made into the raw material used in the
manufacture of Rag Flock, and it is learned that it may originate
from such undesirable sources as refuse dumps. Rags from such
places (and they have been known to include even used surgical
bandages) are certainly not suitable for bedding material.
None of the processes in Rag Flock manufacture attempt
either the cleansing or sterilizing of such rags. The Rag Flock
Acts require that only the chlorine content shall be limited. As
chlorine is readily soluble in water, to achieve this the manufacturer
merely dumps the rags in tanks filled with cold water. Here
they are left for a time, which appears to be governed only by
the demand for the finished product, and certainly not with any
regard to the sterile condition. After removal from the tanks the
fags are rough dried and ready for flocking.
The drying process is governed by relatively the same conditions
as the washing, i.e. the greater the demand the less the drying.
I he greater proportion of Rag Flock is made up into cheap
bedding, which has a quick sale in the retail markets, and there
is little doubt that manv mattresses are sold and used in a decidedly
damp condition.
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