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92
Public Conveniences.
The accommodation detailed in my report for
last vear and the general arrangements for the control
of the conveniences in the borough have remained
unchanged.
Housing Conditions.
In last year's annual report the housing conditions
prevailing in the borough were reviewed in considerable
detail so that it is unnecessary for this to be repeated
in the present report.
Most of the inspections of houses are done on
complaints being received from occupiers and on the
occurrence of infectious diseases such as Scarlet Fever
and Diphtheria. Housing is a fundamental factor in
relation to health and the inspectors are fully alive to
their responsibilities in this respect as well as to the
importance of imparting information on practical
sanitary questions and on health matters generally
whenever it is needful and tactful to do so. In order
to carry out their duties thorough training and practical
experience are necessary and it is worthy of note that
in addition to their qualifying certificates, most of the
inspectors possess other certificates obtained by examination.
Changes of staff are inevitable but frequent
changes prevent continuity of action. Fortunately
during 1931 such changes have been few and closer
co-ordination between the work of the various inspectors
and between the Public Health and other
departments has been possible.
The following table gives the housing statistics in
the form desired by the Minister of Health.
Year ending 31st December, 1931.
1. Inspection of Dwelling-houses during the year:-
(1) (a) I otal number of dwelling-houses inspected for
housing defects (under Public Health or Housing
Acts) 4262
(b) Number of inspections made for the purpose 22,652