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Since 1940 there has been a steady fall in the proportion of confinements
taking place in the mothers' homes. The housing shortage and
the difficulty in obtaining domestic assistance are important contributory
causes. During the year assistance was given under the Council'
home-help scheme to 46 maternity cases as compared with 77 in 1944 and
51 in 1943. The home-help service was extended to cover non-maternity
cases and during 1945 assistance was given to 43 households. The
demand for assistance varies greatly throughout the year and this,
coupled with the shortage of suitable women prepared to undertake the
work on a whole-time or part-time basis, makes the administrative work
very heavy in relation to the number of households assisted.
When children are placed in the care of foster-mothers reguls
supervisory visits are paid to see that the children receive adequate
care and attention and to avoid overcrowding of foster homes.
Two ambulances and one car are used by the municipal ambulanc
service and are manned by a whole-time staff. The calls on this
service, especially for non-accident cases, are increasing as is shown
below :-
1957 & 1958 1944 & 1945
Accident calls 1788 1254
Other calls 1189 4759
The majority of the "other calls" arise in connection with attendance
at hospitals for treatment or examination. The vehicle mileage covere
during the year was 24,770.
The water supply of the Borough is adequate and constant and
apart from a few isolated cottages, every house has a direct supply
from the mains. The Sanitary inspectors maintained their attention to
nuisances, housing defects, food inspection and other environmental
conditions. Shortage of labour and materials continued to retard the
repair and maintenance of dwelling houses. Much deterioration has
occurred in houses during the war and this is being tackled as rapidly
as conditions permit. The number of cases of overcrowding brought to
the notice of my Department is small but there is evidence from many
other sources that overcrowding is prevalent. At the end of the year
29 houses, subject to Demolition Orders, were occupied.
Nuisance due to emission of smoke and grit from factory
chimneys was found more often than is desirable. In many cases the
fuel in use was unsuitable and of poor quality but the resultant need
for greater care in firing to avoid waste and nuisance was not
appreciated by all concerned.
Fewer complaints were received of milk being supplied in
dirty bottles. This was probably due to cessation of black-out and
more' staff being available in the milk trade rather than any reduction
in the misuse of milk bottles by the public. The quantity of unsound
food mentioned in the report as seized or surrendered refers only to
food from retail premises in the Borough. An additional 8,065 lbs.
and 85 tins from bulk stores were passed for disposal to the salvage
section of the Ministry of Food.
The work carried out under the Rats and Mice (Destruction)
Act, 1919 showed a steady increase and the services of an additional
operator will probably be required. The responsibility for keeping
premises free of rats rests with the occupier. This involves not
only getting rid of the rats when they are infesting the premises but
taking such measures as are necessary to prevent re-infestation. Too
frequently after the premises have been cleared the occupier continues
to provide shelter and food and., when rats return to take advantage of
this, complains that the clearance of the premises has not been
efficient. The encouragement of occupiers to keep their premises
unattractive for rats is an important part of the Rodent Officer's
work.
4.