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53
In conclusion, may I express my faith in the value of the International Health Office to this country,
which, as you know, is always the biggest target to hit at, and which suffers more than any other country
from indiscriminate and excessive measures imposed upon its transport and its commerce.
I am not exaggerating when I state that each and every member of the Paris Office honestly endeavours
to improve international health relationships and that few, if any, are impelled by purely selfish motives, nor
by political considerations. Indeed the work of the Paris Office is, particularly these days, a welcome
demonstration that countries are prepared, when moved by the highest motives, to put themselves to
inconvenience and often to expense if, in doing so, they can further the progress of trade and commerce, and
the health and welfare of all concerned.
CANAL BOATS ACTS.
Your Medical Officer made on 10th January, 1939, the following report on the
steps taken to carry into effect the provisions of Part X of the Public Health Act,
1936, relating to Canal Boats, within the district of the Port of London Health
Authority during the year ended 31st December, 1938.
This Part of the Act applies within the whole district under the jurisdiction of the
Port of London Health Authority, including the River Thames and Docks, as a
"canal" for the purposes of the Act "includes any river, inland navigation or lake,
and any other waters situate wholly or in part within a county or county borough,
whether those waters are or are not within the ebb and flow of the tide."
The navigation, in addition to the River Thames and Docks, includes the following
navigable tributary rivers and creeks of the River Thames:—
On the right bank—
From Teddington downwards:—
Wandsworth Creek (River Wandle).
Hay's Dock.
St. Saviour's Dock.
Part of the Grand Union Canal within the
Surrey Commercial Dock.
Deadman's Dock.
Deptford Creek (River Ravensbourne).
Dartford Creek (Rivers Cray and Darenth).
The entrance to Gravesend Canal.
Cliffe Creek.
Yantlet and Coalmouth Creeks.
Part of the River Medway and of the Swale.
On the left bank—
From Teddington downwards:—
The entrance of the River Brent.
Hammersmith Creek.
Chelsea Creek.
Grosvenor Dock.
Limekiln Creek.
Bow Creek (River Lea).
Rainham Creek (River Ingrebourne).
Mucking Creek.
Thames Haven and Hole Haven.
Havengore Creek.
River Roach as far as Rochford.
The whole of this area is divided into three districts, known as the Upper, Middle
and Lower; each district is in charge of an Inspector, as follows:—
Upper District Teddington to Greenwich Inspector McDermott.
Middle District Greenwich to Erith Inspector Dring.
Lower District Erith to the seaward limits of the }
Port (including part of the River } Inspector Beattie.
Medway).}