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would be taken. He withdrew his appeals and did, in fact, complete
the works within the time agreed.
In addition to the foregoing, 9,058 houses were inspected
under the Public Health Acts; 7,531 Statutory Notices were served
and were followed by the issue of 702 summonses. Of these 369
were withdrawn on payment of Costs, the work having been
completed before the date of hearing. In 331 oases Magistrate's
Orders to execute works were made. Of these, 85 were not complied
with, and summonses were issued in all these cases for failing
to comply with Magistrate's Orders, 41 being withdrawn on
payment of Costs where the works were completed before the
date of hearing, and in 44 cases penalties were imposed by the
Court.
Under the West Ham Corporation Acts, 1893 to 1898, 22
summonses were issued, mostly in connection with combined
drains. Penalties were imposed by the Magistrate in 5 cases and
17 summonses were withdrawn, the works having been carried
out before the date of hearing. It is usually difficult to induce the
owners of a group of properties served by a combined drain to
act in co-operation and instruct one common contractor, and it is
not the practise of the Council to carry out such works in default,
but it has been found that owners usually co-operate following the
issue of summonses on all parties.
SPECIAL REPORT
ISSUED BY THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
Housing Act, 1935.
Preliminary Memorandum by the Medical Officer of Health.
The above-named Act, which came into force on August 2nd,
1935, is one which must have far-reaching effects upon the mental
and physical health of the populace, and may be considered one
of the most important health measures since the great Public
Health Act of 1875. It legislates, among other matters, to make
further and better provision for the abatement and prevention of
overcrowding, the re-development of Urban Areas in connection
with the provision of housing accommodation therein, the reconditioning
of buildings, and to amend the enactments relating to
clearance areas and housing generally.
Several Circulars, Provisional Regulations and Memoranda
have been issued by the Minister of Health (copies of these have
been circulated to you by the Town Clerk) concerning the working
of the Act and elucidating certain clauses and sections.
The object of this Memorandum is to set out as briefly as
possible (a) the immediate duties which have to be carried out
through my Department; (b) to put forward suggestions to the
Housing Committee as to the manner in which these duties may
be performed.
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