View report page

Clean Air Act
Ship owners, masters of vessels and engineroom personnel, owners of tugs and the Port of
London Authority have continued appreciably to assist in further reducing smoke from vessels.
Only nineteen infringements by ships were observed. Legal proceedings were instituted in respect
of three of these infringements and convictions obtained in each case.
Transport of Refuse by Lighters
Regular observation of refuse lighters has been maintained but no serious infringement of
the Refuse Byelaws was noted. No legal proceedings were instituted.
Houseboats
Twenty-two houseboats were licenced to be moored at Benfleet in accordance with the provisions
of the Essex County Council Act, 1952.
Canal Boats
160 inspections of canal boats were made during the year. Fifty-four defects were found
on thirty-three boats.
Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act 1936
Fourteen samples of feeding stuffs were submitted to the Agricultural Analyst.
Oil Tankers
1057 ocean going tankers and 2,378 coasters berthed at the oil installations in the Thames
Haven area during the year.
Visitors and Students
Qualified medical men and Public Health Inspectors from abroad and from local authorities
and technical colleges in this country continue to visit the Port to obtain thoeretical and practical
instruction in Port Health work.
Launches
The four launches continue to give regular and efficient service and credit for this must be
given to the crews employed who are tireless in their efforts to maintain the condition and
appearance of the vessels at a high level. The "Howard Deighton" is, however, now nearing
the end of her career with the Authority and a new boarding cutter, the "Humphrey Morris" has
been designed and launched and will shortly be in service.
Lectures, Papers and Articles
The paper by Dr. Greenwood Wilson and an article by Dr. Amphlett Williams are reproduced
in Appendices (VI & VII) of this Report.
Obituary and Retirements
The death of Mr. W.L. McLorg and the retirement of Mr. P.W. Coombe occurred during the
year.
Finally, I wish to record my appreciation of the collaboration and assistance rendered by
Her Majesty's Customs, the Pilots, the Immigration Officers, the Port of London Authority, the
Shipping Federation, the staffs of Shipping Companies and Merchants, the staffs of the Central
Public Health Laboratory and the "Dreadnought" Seamen's Hospital, the Public Analyst, the
Emergency Bed Service, the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, the Dartford
Hospital Management Committee, and all those who have so generously and willingly helped me
in every aspect of port health work throughout the year, particularly the Chairman and members
of the Port and City of London Health Committee.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. GREENWOOD WILSON.
APPENDICES
(I) Medical Inspections
(II) Infectious Diseases
(III) Rodents
(IV) Sanitary Inspections
(V) Docks, Powers and Publications
(VI) Paper on Imported Foods
(VII) Article on Lead in tea
4