M (1) 10
ANNEXE BY THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
1.-(i) WORK DONE UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS ORDINANCE,
Sanitary Nuisances and Contraventions of Sanitary By-laws: Appendix M shows the total number of nuisances reported, the action taken to obtain compliance and amount of fines. Of the total number of nuisances reported in which action was taken 63% were abated after receipt of a letter. This is a small but welcome improvement over the corresponding figure (58%) for last year. In 248 cases a legal notice failed to produce compliance. Of the summonses which followed 21 secured convictions, 8 were discharged, 6 withdrawn and abandoned.
It is a matter for regret that these figures for legal notices and summonses show an increase over 1929 in that they are index of the number of failures to get works carried out by peaceful persuasion rather than resort to law.
It should be remembered that each inspector has for supervision a district, with approximately 25,000 inhabitants, most of whom are ignorant of the rudiments of sanitation.
Appendix N shows the nuisances in respect of which action has been taken.
Appendix O (i) shows the Health Districts from which these nuisances were reported and Appendix O (ii) gives details of all prosecutions and amount of fines inflicted.
(ii) Building Nuisances:- Appendix O (i) line 1 shows by districts the number of nuisances under Part III of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance reported by the Department to the Building Authority for action. These are additional to those referred to in paragraph (i) above.
(iii) Although Appendix O shows a considerable balance in favour of new domestic premises over similar premises demolished, there is no evidence of any decrease in overcrowding. This is especially true of the central districts in the City of Victoria.
It has, up to the present, been found quite impractical to enforce strictly Sections 153 and 154 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance. Much time is therefore taken up in the consideration of applications for modifications of these sections.
(iv) Miscellaneous improvements:- Appendix O (1) lines 3, 4, 5 show miscellaneous improvements effected by District Inspectors in their districts. Lines 7, 8, 9, 10 show the number of houses demolished and erected. The great majority of these are tenement houses.