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in the infectious diseases section. This outbreak was limited to a fairly
circumscribed area of this borough and part of an adjoining borough and all the
circumstantial evidence pointed to a common source of the infection. Imported
egg products were strongly suspected as being the vehicle of the infection but
it was not possible to confirm this theory definitely
Tuberculosis. Notifications of tuberculosis and deaths from this disease
continue to fall. The number of primary notifications received was 129 as
compared with 152 in the previous year, and there were 17 deaths, which were 18
fewer than in 1954. The tuberculosis death rate per thousand of the population
was 0. 10 for Hackney, as compared with rates of 0. 17 for the County of
London and 0,15 for England and Wales. With regard to the campaign against
tuberculosis, the Mass Miniature Radiography Unit of the North East Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board visited Hackney in February and March In addition
to members of the public X-rayed at the Town Hall and Lower Clapton Road
Centres, where the Unit functioned for a total period of six weeks, special
arrangements were made during the year for the examination of expectant
mothers, the staff of a hospital, and some school children
Inspection and supervision of food By the Transfer of Functions (Food and
Drugs) Order, 1955, responsibility for the legislation regarding food and drugs
is now shared centrally between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
and the Ministry of Health. Whilst there is undoubtedly a continuing steady
advance in food hygiene standards, there is nevertheless still much room for
improvement. The additional powers now available to local authorities under
the consolidating Food and Drugs Act of 1955 and the Regulations made thereunder
are very welcome; the Act came into operation on January 1st of the
current year
Housing. in my last Report I referred to our experience of the first six
months of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act it will be remembered this Act
came into operation on 30th August, 1954. A further year's experience unfortunately
only confirms our first impressions that this additional housing
legislation has not, as far as we can see, helped to any material extent in
improving housing conditions generally and in preventing deterioration of
property In this Borough with the exception of one or two large estates,
private owners do not appear to have been attracted by the inducements as to
the repairs increases in rent provided for in Part II of the Act Sections 11
and 12, which deal with fitness for occupation and prevention of overcrowding
in houses in multiple occupation, were intended to replace the old London
County Council by-laws made under Section 6 of the 1936 Act relating to houses
let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family In practice
however it has been found well nigh impossible to operate these sections to
any considerable extent since action thereunder would inevitably result in the
local authority being faced with the moral obligation of rehousing displaced
families and thereby adding to their already heavy rehousing commitments The
second post-war five year SLUM CLEARANCE programme covers the years 1956 SO
and, after a thorough survey of the Borough, agreement was reached with the
London County Council that that authority would include in its clearance programme
95 houses in 6 areas and the Borough Council would deal with 62 houses
in 7 areas. The joint proposals of the County Council and the Borough Council
have now been approved by the Minister of Housing and Local Government Apart
from clearance areas a considerable amount of time was again devoted to the
inspection of individual houses and to basement dwellings and other parts of
houses used for human habitation New powers to Metropolitan Borough Councils
for in certain circumstances, expediting repairs to property were provided for
in the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1955. Details of the
relevant sections of the Act are set out in the section on sanitary circum
stances in the body of the Report. The powers given enable local authorities.