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Mr. Town Clerk, following consultation with Mr. Comptroller and City Solicitor, addressed
a letter to The Secretary, Ministry of Health, reminding the Minister of the various health
considerations involved in planning buildings which could be used for human habitation in the
neighbourhood of a hospital which might, at any time, be occupied by a case of smallpox, the
Ministry of Health having themselves in the past laid down rules and conditions governing
such planning.
At the end of the year 1954 no further development had taken place and your Medical
Officer has now been given to understand that the project has been dropped, as far as Denton is
concerned, and a fresh application has been made for the erection of a gas works on the Isle of
Grain, where it is proposed to erect a plant jointly with the British Petroleum Company in the
manufacture of gas from petroleum products.
EFFECT OF THE DOCK STRIKE ON THE WORK OF THE PORT HEALTH AUTHORITY.
Your Medical Officer felt that your Worshipful Committee would be interested to know
something of the effect of the dock strike on the work of the Port Health Authority and he
therefore asked various members of the Inspectorial staff to submit a short report on the subject.
The following are the principal observations made in these reports: —
Royal Dock Group.
The Dock Strike of 1954 has followed the pattern of previous post-War disputes with the
exception that the stoppage of the P.L.A. Permanent Dockers has not occurred since the
General Strike of 1926. The action of the P.L.A. Permanent Dockers in joining the present
strike has brought work in the docks to a complete stop.
These P.L.A. "Perms" play a vital part in the dock service for they "man" the Cold
Stores, Tobacco Warehouses, and the majority of import and export sheds and warehouses.
The withdrawal of their labour has an immediate effect on the work of the Port Health Authority
who are unable to have cases of foodstuffs opened up for examination or meat handled in the
Cold Stores; consequently, with the exception of the privately owned Swift's Cutting Store in
the Victoria Dock, which has been able to carry on, there has been a complete stoppage of work.
As soon as it was realised that the "stoppage" might be of long duration, many shipping
companies sailed their ships, leaving the docks somewhat depleted; however, about twenty
ships have entered the Royal Group during the strike period to date.
The following gives a brief survey of the work carried out by each branch under the
restricted conditions: —
Rodent Control. All sheds, warehouses, etc., have been kept locked except those in which
a P.L.A. Foreman's Office is situated. This has not prevented the normal examination of
premises by the rodent staff because all premises have been opened as requested for inspection,
and poisoning has been carried out where necessary.
The complete inspection of ships by the rodent staff has not always been possible, especially
where crews have been paid off and there was nobody to remove hatches, but in these cases
the rest of the ship has been inspected and action taken where necessary.
The rodent staff have taken the opportunity of making extensive examinations of waste
ground and shore premises, and for the period 4th to 20th October the following premises were
inspected:-
Royal Albert Dock 404
Victoria Dock 170 including mills and silos.
King George V Dock 135
Total 709
Dock and Ship Hygiene.
The normal inspection of crews quarters by the Inspectors has proceeded without
interruption.
Owing to the strike of lightermen a partly loaded refuse lighter was left in the Victoria Dock
and created a 'nuisance' owing to the flies. As the craft could not be removed from the dock,
the owners were requested to spray the refuse and this was done using Dieldrin.
Inspection of Foodstuffs.
With the exception of Messrs. Swift's Cutting Store, Victoria Dock, where normal work
on the cutting and reconditioning of meat has been carried on, it has not been possible to examine
foodstuffs in the Cold Stores or Warehouses owing to the absence of labour for opening up cases
or handling meat. The Inspectors have therefore concerned themselves with daily visits to
those premises where foodstuffs are stowed to observe any obvious change in condition or undue
rise in temperature. In two cases it has been necessary to take action and detention notices have
been issued. Two banana ships arrived from Jamaica and were able to complete discharge but a
farther ship has not been touched.
General.
Normal dock repairs and maintenance have proceeded and requests from the Port Health
Authority have received attention. During this difficult period the Port of London Authority
have afforded every facility within their limited means.
Tilbury Dock.
The Strike did not effect Tilbury Dock until Monday, the 11th October—about a week later
than in the other dock groups. The general effect has been to reduce the number of ships entering
the dock very considerably. Of the 23 Deep Sea Berths at Tilbury only 5 are at present occupied,
and of the 4 Short Sea Berths only 1 is occupied. None of the ships is working cargo. One is
working ship's stores by means of the ship's crew.
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