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to residents in the neighbourhood of the factory concerned. During the year complaints of nuisance
due to noise were received in regard to 8 factories. Many day and night observations were made concerning
these complaints and every effort made in conjunction with the firms concerned to reduce the
noise as far as was practicable.

The responsibility for keeping premises free from rats and mice rests with the occupiers. If they
ire unable or do not care to undertake the necessary work themselves the services of the Council's operatives
ire available on payment on a time and material basis. Not only must the rats on the premises be dealt
with, but also the conditions encouraging their presence if recurrence of infestation is to be avoided. By
whatever means rats and mice gain access to premises, their continued presence there is generally due
to conditions on the premises which provide food and/or harbourage, and it is proper that the occupiers
should be required to do something about it. Test baiting and, where necessary, treatment is carried
>ut to sewers, watercourses, tips, etc., but unless occupiers take active measures to discourage rats, slow
progress will be made towards eradication.
HOUSING
To-day the shortage of houses is such that houses suitable for demolition have to be retained. The
lousing shortage is causing physical, mental and moral strain, and until this can be relieved by the
provision of new houses action in regard to slum clearance must be postponed. Attention is being given
to making good the deterioration in houses arising from the restrictions and difficulties of maintenance
luring the war years, but progress is slow because labour and materials are still scarce. A summary of the
work done in connection with housing is given below:—
New houses erected:—
(a) By Local Authority 146
(b) By private enterprise 66
Houses inspected 822
Defective houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action 262
Defective houses rendered fit in consequence of statutory action 252
Houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made Nil
Houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Orders 10
Houses rendered fit in consequence of undertaking given by owner Nil
Houses known to be overcrowded (Housing Act standard) at end of year 123
New cases of overcrowding reported 47
Cases of overcrowding relieved during the year 5
Southall Corporation erected 10 and Brentford and Chiswick Corporation 20 of the new Local
Authority houses recorded in the above table. Of the 66 private enterprise houses 32 were conveyed
after erection to Heston & Isleworth Corporation. In addition, 109 houses were built privately to replace
houses totally destroyed by enemy action. Thus the total number of new dwellings erected in the
Borough during the year was 321.
At the end of 1947 tenants were occupying 52 houses in respect of which Demolition Orders have
been made or undertakings not to re-let accepted from the owners. The above record cannot be accepted
is a true picture of overcrowding as such could be obtained only by a census or survey of all houses,
rhe Housing Act standard is a house and not a bedroom standard and therefore presents a picture very
different from the usual concept of overcrowding. The average number of new houses erected annually
in the Borough during the years 1931-38 was 1,330 and the building loss due to the war will take some time
to make good.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
Milk.—During the year 148 inspections were made at cowsheds, dairies and retail purveyor’
premises. Under the Milk (Special Designations) Orders 18 licences for the sale of " tuberculin tested
milk, 23 for the sale of " pasteurised " milk and 1 for a pasteurising plant were issued.
Samples of milk have been taken at intervals for bacteriological examination and to test the
efficiency of the pasteurising. Complaints of milk being supplied in dirty bottles were less frequent in
1947 as compared with previous years. While the importance of clean methods of milk production,
handling and retailing is continuously brought to the notice of those engaged in the trade, too many
members of the public fail to apply the most elementary rules of hygiene in regard to milk bottles. Such
bottles should be rinsed as soon as they are emptied and should not be used for other purposes.
Ice-Cream.—Under the Food and Drugs Act premises used for "the sale, or the manufacture for
the purpose of sale, of ice-cream or the storage of ice-cream intended for sale" must be registered. This
does not apply to premises used primarily as a club, hotel, inn or restaurant and only to a theatre, cinematograph
theatre, music hall or concert hall if the ice-cream is manufactured on the premises. During
the year 204 inspections of registered premises were carried out.
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