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55
OVERCROWDING STATISTICS, 1950.
(a) (i) Number of dwellings overcrowded at the end of
the year 979
(ii) Number of families dwelling therein 1,380
(iii) Number of persons dwelling therein 5,127
(b) Number of new cases of overcrowding reported
during the year 400
(c) (i) Number of cases of overcrowding relieved
during the year 336
(ii) Number of persons concerned in such cases 1,571
(d) Particulars of any cases in which dwelling-
houses have again become overcrowded after
the local authority have taken steps for the
abatement of overcrowding Nil
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD AND FOOD
PREMISES.
Of the many public services performed by the staff of the
department none is more important to health than that which
endeavours to ensure a wholesome food supply. Nowadays there
are many Acts, Orders and Regulations covering contamination
and adulteration of food and although these powers are still in
some respects inadequate the unscrupulous food dealer or manufacturer
does not enjoy the latitude which he had thirty years ago
when there were few legal standards for many of the foods sold for
human consumption and the powers of Councils were much more
limited than at present.
It is true to say that to a great extent it is the Public Health
Departments, upon whom have devolved the responsibility for
administering the legislation relating to food, to whom credit
for the great improvements which have been brought about in the
sphere of food control is due. Many of the safeguards now in
existence are the results of representations made to the Central
Authorities by various Councils following consideration of reports
on the snags and difficulties encountered during the work of food
inspection and sampling and, indeed, it is usually long after the
need for legislation has become obvious to those whose duty it is
to endeavour to safeguard the nation's food supply that the necessary
Acts are passed by Parliament, or the Orders or Regulations
are issued by the responsible Minister.
Unfortunately, the Council's difficulties do not end with the
passing of the legislation, for, despite the fact that their only
desire is to protect the public, they have not always had the