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47
premises where there was no evidence of rat runs. In 5 cases it was
necessary to serve Notices under the Rats and Mice (Destruction)
Act, 1919.
During "Rat Week" in November an extra effort was made to
deal with the rat menace. The Borough Engineer and Surveyor's
Department laid rat poison baits in the various sewers owned by
this Council, the work beng carried out in conjunction with the
Main Drainage Department of the London County Council. The
Public Health Committee also directed your Medical Officer of
Health to communicate with the editors of the local newspapers
circulating in the district, inviting them to draw the attention of
their readers to National Rat Week. Posters issued by the Rodent
and Insect Pest Destruction Co. Ltd. were displayed on the Council
sand-bins; at the Town Hall, and at the Baths and Underground
Conveniences, and copies of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries bulletin No. 30 were also distributed by the Sanitary
Inspectors to the proprietors of factories, workshops, and food
places in the Borough.
Occupation of Underground Rooms.
The occupation of underground rooms for sleeping purposes is
governed by Section 96 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
Section 18 of the Housing Act, 1925. and Section 20 of the Housing
Act, 1930.
As far as can be ascertained, very few underground rooms in
this Borough are used for sleeping purposes. There are, however,
many such rooms used as living rooms.
During the year five underground rooms were closed.
Cemeteries.
There are three cemeteries in the Borough, two of which are
owned by the Council. There is no provision for the cremation of
bodies at any of these burial grounds. During the year five exhumations
under Home Office licences were carried out under the
supervision of a Sanitary Inspector.
Ministry of Health Survey.
Under Statute the Minister of Health appointed Dr. Neil R.
Beattie to undertake a survey and report to him on the Public
Health services of this Borough.
For this purpose Dr. Beattie attended at the Public Health
Department and visited various institutions, depots and other
places of public health importance during his investigation of the
various branches of the Public Health services in Camberwell.
The object of the Survey was to answer the question as to the
efficiency and appropriateness of the local arrangements.