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21
Tenants are not slow to notify the Sanitary Inspector of
obvious defects which arise from time to time, but they have yet
to learn that it is their duty to take proper care of the premises
they occupy, and keep in a cleanly state the W.C. pans, sink and
drain gullies and storage cistern.
Much expense could be saved, and renewals less frequent if
tenants were made directly responsible for the proper care of
Sanitary appliances in their homes and by the exercise of common
sense and care a vast amount of sickness and ill health can be
prevented.
The ordinary Sanitary operations of the department have
continued to receive unremitting attention.
House to house inspections of Cottage property are made
whenever the general routine of duties permit, but single handed
there is seldom time to devote to this important work, as each
day brings its own series of requests for inspections and reinspections,
in various parts of the district.
The occupiers of the houses in certain areas, lay wait on the
Inspector when in the district and invite him to inspect their
houses, for the purpose of having some minor defect remedied,
and the year's work was increased by reason of the number
of complaints from occupiers (under the Kent and Mortgage Act)
of insanitary conditions which had occured through neglect
during the war period, the increase being almost 40% over prewar
complaints. This work has made heavy demands on the
Inspector's time and doubled the clerical work in the office, and
in consequence the routine house to house inspections has had to
he suspended, which without some assistance cannot be
attempted under the present conditions.
Since I took up my duties I am pleased to be able to state
that, in the majority of cases, an intimition to the owners of the
existence of nuisances or defects on specified premises, with a
request to execute remedial works, of which particu ars are specified
in detail, has been sufficient to secure the abatement of
nuisances, and other minor defects remedied.