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105
Influenza and Cinemas. In 1912, Local Government Board
Regulations made a thirty minutes' interval compulsory, but these were
withdrawn in May, 1919. The Council asked the Ministry of Health
and the County Council, in February, 1920, to take more stringent
precautions to prevent infection in places of amusement, especially as
regards disinfection and ventilation between performances. The
Ministry advised that Local Authorities should use steady pressure in
conjunction with the local licensing authority. In January, 1922, the
Borough Council wrote again to the Ministry and County Council
asking that the matter be considered again, making it compulsory to
have an interval of half-an-hour between performances. The Ministry
felt that attention to the general system of ventilation would be more
effective than the proposed interval.
I visited two cinemas, and drew the attention of one manager to
the abominable ventilation. The manager explained that one of the
fans had broken down and that arrangements had been made to put it
in order.
Ice Cream. The London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1902, Part 8, came into operation on November 1st, 1902. This calls
upon merchants or dealers in ice creams not to make this commodity
or store it in any cellar, shed or room in which there is any inlet or
opening to a drain or which is used as a living room or sleeping room.
The commodity must not be exposed to infection or contamination by
any act or default. The merchant or dealer must give notice forthwith
to the Medical Officer of Health of any outbreak of infectious disease
amongst employees living in or about the premises, etc. Itinerant
vendors must have on their barrows the name and address of the person
from whom he obtains such commodity, or his own name and address
if he is the manufacturer himself. In September, 1921, the Borough
Council asked the County Council to register retailers and wholesalers
of ice cream, as Regulations could not be enforced if the Local
Authority did not know the extent to which ice cream was manufactured
or sold within their area, and that only by means of compulsory registration
could this be done. Further, a reasonable standard of cleanliness
could be enforced before registering premises. There are 93 ice cream
makers in Deptford, but vendors can stroll in from any outside area. It
is extremely desirable that the Borough Council should press this
matter with the County Council. No man should be allowed to sell
ice cream unless the premises are registered. The Inspector should