PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES
Squatter fires this year which have driven the fire victims to settle temporarily in the streets have thrown much extra work on the Division which has had to provide temporary latrines, bath-houses and large refuse bins.
Although many new buildings and houses mostly with water carriage system are being erected each year, there is still a steady increase in the demands on the conservancy disposal service, which covers nearly 50,000 floors and employs a staff of over 1,400. Much of the increase is due to the provision of proper sanita- tion in the new buildings erected for resettling squatters. A specially designed vehicle for conservancy service. imported from the United Kingdom has been put into use and found most suitable for daylight removal of nightsoil from temporary latrines erected for squatter fire victims in certain streets. Nightsoil collection during the year exceeded 90,000 cubic yards, which is three times the quantity collected during 1946/47.
The various advisory committees and professional and technical officers are giving constant attention to the problems of improving the standard of health and hygiene in the community.
Three new public bath-houses have been erected during the year, making a total of ten in the urban district with a daily attendance, for which no charge is made, of over 3,900 persons of both sexes. The provision of additional bath-houses and public latrine accommodation is being increased according to a five year programme.
119