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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF*THE AREA.
S,
Report of the Chief Public Health Inspector
H. Ault, M.P.H.I^iL.
I have pleasure in submitting the Annual Report on the work of the Public Health
Inspectors during the year ending 31st December, 1956.
Opportunity is taken to express my appreciation of the co-operation and services
rendered by the Technical and Clerical Staff.
On Thursday 2nd August, 1956, the Royal Assent was given to the Sanitary Inspectors
(Change of Designation) Act 1956, and Sanitary Inspectors employed by local authorities in
England and Wales automatically became known as Public Health Inspectors.
The career of the Bill through Parliament in its early stages was very uncertain
and by the end of May the chances of it receiving a second reading in the House of Commons
seemed very remote. On the 15th June, however, the Bill received an unopposed second
reading, after which it made rapid progress and on l8th July passed its third reading in
the Commons.
The terra "Sanitary Inspector" has been in use officially since 1921 when the title
"inspector of Nuisances" disappeared. Generally, the new title is received with satisfaction
throughout the profession although a minority do not wish to be known as public health
inspectors, and it will be some time before the general public become used to the change.
Some comment on items of particular interest is provided in addition to the
statistical tables.
The number of dwelling houses in the Borough is 41,367 and the population is 167,000.
The Metropolitan Water Board are the Statutory Undertakers throughout the County
Borough and the water has been satisfactory in quantity and quality.
There is no evidence of plumbo-solvent action and no cases of contamination were
reported. All the houses except two are supplied directly by pipes. In these two instances
water is supplied to standpipes situated in the yards, but these properties are in confirmed
Clearance Areas.
Factories Act, 1937.
If a factory is equipped with and uses mechanical power, the administration of the
Factories Act, 1937* is the responsibility of the Factory Inspectors of the Ministry of Labour
and National Service, with the exception of the enforcement of the provision of sanitary
accommodation, which is dealt with by the Public Health Inspectors. In non-mechanically
operated factories,* the provisions relating to cleanliness, over-crowding, temperature,
ventilation and drainage of floors are dealt with by the Public Health Inspectors. In the
case of factories belonging to the Crown, however, the powers and duties of district councils
are administered by the Factory Inspectors and the Public Health Inspectors have no power
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