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56
Directions are given as to isolation and disinfection. A
report of the case containing all the necessary particulars required
by the Medical Officer of Health is prepared, and every precaution
taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
DISINFECTANTS.
There are 4 depots in the Borough conveniently situated for
distributing disinfectants to ratepayers requiring same. They are
open daily, and during the year 5 tons of powder and 1,120
gallons of disinfecting fluid have been distributed.
TRADE REFUSE.
There have been 1,206 loads of trade refuse removed from
business premises during the year. The Council remove this free
of charge, providing it is placed in a suitable receptacle and
deposited in a convenient position ready for collection on the day
appointed. The refuse is conveyed to the Destructor Works and
destroyed.
HOUSE REFUSE.
There have been 10,860 loads of house refuse collected
during the year, as compared with 9,699 for the previous year—
an increase of 1,161 loads. This is due to two reasons, viz.,
increase in the number of families and the poor quality of
fuel. The method of collection is the weekly pail system, and
from inception it has worked successfully. The Council have
entered into a contract for a fleet of electric motor vans, which
will displace horses and effect a considerable saving in money.
The cost of collecting house refuse to-day is £79,330 per annum,
which is equal to 6s. 9d. per bouse. If this is compalred with
the sum spent for the same work for the year 1913 (the
year before the war), viz., £74,000 or 2s. ll£d. per house
per annum, a considerable increase, accounted for (by the
enormous cost for horse hire, which has risen fully 300
per cent. Since the days before the war, wages of the Council's
fillers, which were 32s. per week, are now 70s. per week, an
increase of over 100 per cent. There may be no prospect of
any immediate reduction in wages, but one is sanguine of being
able to do the work with electric motor vans with more e Fciency
and economy.