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39
The advantages of this work being superintended by the Health
Department will be understood, when it is seen that sixty-six new
sanitary dust-bins have been provided in place of defective ones,
or where none previously existed, and that fifty-one accumulations
of rubbish have been removed from the rear of houses, and this is
only for the period from June ist. to Dec. 31st. 1908, when this
work was taken over by this Department.
The filthy insanitary dust-bin is one of the blots on our sanitary
adminstration, and yet it is a fact that the principle of cleansing
receptacles constantly in use for the storage of noxious matters is
never applied to dust-bins.
The neglected dust-bin in addition to being offensive and
unhealthy has a short career, and is therefore financially
unprofitable. The putrescent crust rots the material of which it is
constructed ; it becomes perforated ; it passes away ; and is most
difficult to replace, in fact the uniform provision of successive dustbins
is a very difficult task.
Attention was drawn to the great desirability of a secondary
means of access being provided to all houses for purposes of
refuse collection and this matter is receiving the earnest attention
of the Committee.
Trade Refuse (with the exception of offal or obnoxious refuse
from Fishmongers, Poulterers, Butchers, &c.), is now collected at
a small charge, as is also garden, builder's, &c., refuse, so
there is now no excuse for the accumulation of these matters,
which are in every district the cause of complaints.
Dirt has been defined as matter in the wrong place and the
sooner all accumulations of dirt are removed the better for the
health of the district.
Regulations for the control of the Collection of Refuse,
including the sweeping or depositing in the streets any dirt, litter,
rubbish, ashes, &c., were adopted by the Council on Nov. 10, 1908.
I may mention that by Sec. 48 of The Public Health Acts
Amendment Act, 1907 a local authority "must" now remove trade
refuse if called upon to do so upon payment of a reasonable sum.
In conclusion I should like to express my thanks for the
kindness and courtesy I have received from the officials of the
Council.
I am, Sir,
Yours faithfully,
HARRY HUNTER, A.R. San. I.,
Mem. San. Inspt. Assoc.