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14
From the summary it will be seen that this work necessitated
the laying of approximately 1318 yards of stoneware and 40 yards
of heavy cast iron drain pipes.
The sanitary defects discovered at the premises were either
remedied or were in hand at the end of the year.
In this connection and also in regard to sanitary defects
discovered as the result of other inspections, I should like to
point out that, owing to labour conditions and the high cost of
materials there is still great difficulty in obtaining the execution
of necessary works, and the time taken in remedying the defects
is even now much in excess of pre-war days. This delay causes
additional work to your Sanitary Inspector, and has a tendency
to produce arrears of work. It has been impossible to attempt a
house to house survey of working class houses during the year
although such a survey is extremely desirable and necessary.
Such work, when properly carried out, helps to raise the general
standard of fitness of this class of property, and is beneficial from
the point of view of both landlord and tenant.
OVERCROWDING.
Several cases of overcrowding came to the notice of the
Department during the year. Owing to the shortage of houses
it has been impossible to take extreme action to obtain abatement
of the nuisance. In certain cases a re arrangement of the
members of the family according to age and sex provides the
necessary air space for each occupant. It is frequently found
that kitchens and sitting rooms are permanently uses as bedrooms.
ASH RECEPTACLES.
The absence of suitable impervious covered ash receptacles in
connection with houses in the Borough is very marked. At the
end of the year it is estimated that out of a total of about 8000
houses, well over 5000 were without proper ashbins. It is no
uncommon sight to see ranks of miscellaneous receptacles, such as
pails, boxes, tin trunks, tubs, etc., etc., all in various stages of