View report page

23
and although it was not possible always to give actual
amounts I have not heard that my estimates were ever
questioned.
Twenty-one food shops were affected in seven
incidents.
SMOKE ABATEMENT.
The problem of smoke abatement does exist although
comparatively it is not a serious one. Probably the worst
offenders are laundry chimneys, but war-time difficulties in
getting replacements for boiler furnace parts and inferior
fuel were found to be the causes of a small number of
complaints received. In each case investigated I am satisfied
that every effort had been made to avoid excessive
smoke.
SHOPS ACTS.
The whole of these Acts are administered by my
Department, and there appear to have been no instances
of intentional evasion.

Houses becoming vacant on the Council's estates are
carefully inspected before re-letting. These were, however,
very few during the year under review.
I am frequently asked to advise house owners on this
problem and several houses have been treated by outside
contractors. HCN is known to have been used in several
cases with entirely satisfactory results.