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THE COCKLE INDUSTRY AT LEIGH-ON-SEA
Samples of cockles continue to be taken regularly by the Public Health Department of the
County Borough of Southend-on-Sea for bacteriological examination. It is gratifying to report that
there have been no adverse findings during the year.
The general conduct and hygiene of the sterilising establishments remain satisfactory and
this is reflected in the bacteriological standard of the end product.
section xv
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF ALIENS
1. List of Medical Inspectors of Aliens holding warrants of appointment on 31st December 1962:—
Dr. J. Greenwood Wilson, Dr. W.T. Rougier Chapman, Dr. G.W. Aston,
Dr. P.J. Roden, Dr. D.T. Jones, Dr. P.S. Greaves, Dr. W.D.L. Smith,
Dr. A.J. Fairrie, Dr. H. Willoughby, Dr. J.A. Jones, Dr. Marion Rave 11,
Dr. C.D. MacCarthy, Dr. A.W. Hagger, Dr. R.G. Dewhurst, Dr. R.G.W. Moore,
Dr. A.G. Rickenback, Dr. D.J. Avery, Dr. J.B. Maguire, Dr. B. Dalton,
Dr. J. Oakley, Dr. P.R. Browne, Dr. J.C. Wishart, Dr. M.J. Catton,
Dr. W. Stott, Dr. A. Robinson, Dr. J.F. Lown, Dr. S. Zador, Dr. R.N. Herson,
Dr. W.T.G. Boul, Dr. W.E. Hutchinson.
2. List of other staff engaged on the work:—
Clerical staff at the Central Office.
3. Organisation of the work : —
A11 vessels carrying aliens are intercepted on arrival in the Port (since the inception of
the Commonwealth Immigrants Act the larger passenger ships have been boarded at Brixham, or
Plymouth, etc.) and the aliens are examined by the Medical Inspector, who is either the Boarding
Medical Officer or a part-time Medical Inspector called in to deal with a particular ship. A 24
hour a day boarding service is maintained at Gravesend.
The Medical Inspectors of Aliens are also appointed as Medical Inspectors of Commonwealth
Immigrants.
4. Nature and amount of alien traffic : —
i (a) Total number of arriving ships carrying aliens 3,215
(b) Total number of aliens —
(i) arriving at the port 31,041
(ii) medically examined 198
(c) Certificates issued 2
5. Medical examination of aliens is carried out on board ship. Where necessary Red Cross
nurses are engaged as chaperons.
THE COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRANTS ACT, 1962
The Commonwealth Immigrants Act came into operation on the 1st July 1962. The Act provides
that certain categories of Commonwealth Immigrants have an entitlement to admission into
the country and others may be refused admission on medical or social grounds. The Immigration
Officer, who is usually the first officer to meet arriving immigrants is entitled to refer any immigrant
subject to control to a Medical Inspector. The Medical Inspector of course examines every
immigrant who is reported to be ill on arrival.
Provision for the necessary medical inspection presented special difficulties in the Port of
London. Passengers arriving may be disembarked in any of the dock groups and sometimes at
riverside wharves where there are no facilities ashore for medical inspection and consequently
these formalities must be carried out on board ship. Since medical inspection is complementary
to the Immigration examination, the ideal arrangement is for the Medical Inspector and the Immigration
Officer to work side by side and it is on this basis that arrangements have been set up for
passengers arriving by sea in London.
For some time Immigration Officers have been boarding the larger passenger ships at Brixham
and Plymouth and sometimes farther afield and since the inception of the Commonwealth Immigrants
Act a team consisting of two doctors, a Red Cross nurse to act as chaperon when a female
passenger is examined, and an administrative officer, has accompanied them to carry out the
necessary medical inspections during the voyage to London. In the case of a ship coming direct
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