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46
PUBLIC CLEANSING.
(a) Generally speaking, weekly collection is in operation, although
more frequent collections are made from tenement buildings, eating
houses and places where food is prepared.
(b) The whole of the refuse is brought to the Council's Depot at
Manor Place, Walworth, for transport by rail to the country depots at
Longfield and Sevenoaks, Kent. Approximately 50 per cent. of the house
refuse is passed through pulverising machines, the crushed material being
disposed of partly by sale to Kent farmers as a dressing for heavy soil,
and the remainder is used for covering the rough dust at the tips.
At Longfield controlled tipping is operated satisfactorily.
The Sevenoaks Depot will shortly be closed, the available space
having been filled in.
There are no cesspools, earths closets or privies in the Borough.
COMMON LODGING HOUSES.
I beg to report that on April 1st, 1933, the duty of supervising and
the licensing of Common Lodging Houses was transferred from the London
County Council to the Borough Council.
There are 18 of these houses in Southwark, 12 for men and 6 for
women; they contain 1,897 beds for the former and 410 for the latter,
and they are comprised chiefly of old houses converted for this particular
purpose.
During the year the whole of the Common Lodging Houses were visited
by the Medical Officer of Health and myself, and several were inspected
by the Chairman of the Public Health Committee.
In the course of the inspection it was found that 9 premises were
badly infested with the bed bug; they were discovered in the walls,
ceilings, beds and bedsteads, and accordingly notices were served under
the Bye-laws by the Town Clerk on the several keepers to abate the
nuisances complained of.