The Public Cleansing Conference
Page 49
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Many Interesting Papers and Visits and a Striking Demonstration of Public-cleansing Vehicles and Appliances Make Up Programme of the Institute's Meeting at Southend-on-Sea
A.
• COMPREHENSIVE programme arranged was arnged for the Institute of Public Cleansing Conference at Southend,
. concluding to-day with two papers, "The Requirements of a Modern Street-cleansing Service," by Mr. A. R. Findlay, Aberdeen, and" Public Cleansing in Rural Areas," by Mr. T.I Cohn Gough, Stirling, followed by a visit to the refuse-disposal works at Prittlewell, near Southend.
The Conference commenced last Monday, a civic reception being given fn.the evening. On Tuesday Mr. S. Thornley, Leeds, was installed as president and gave his address, which was followed by an address by Mr. I. G. Gibbon, C.B., C.B.E., Ministry of Health. Mr. R. Entwistle, Blackpool, then read. a paper, " Public Cleansing Problems and Organization in Seaside Towns," The afternoon was occupied by a visit to the Thames Board Mills, at Purileet, to which cleansing departments supply much of the paper.
On Wednesday a symposium of five essays on "Public Cleansing Transport" was delivered, and a paper, "Public Cleansing in Utrecht," by Mr. G. A. De Moyne, Utrecht. The annual dinner took place that evening.
The exhibition and demonstration of public-cleansing vehicles and appliances was arranged for Thursday, and is dealt with elsewhere inthis issue.
In his presidential address, Mr. S. Thornley Mentioned that members of the Institute administer a sanitary service which costs the ratepayers 210,000,000 per annum. They are determined to spend only what is absolutely necessary and to give full value.
There are encouraging signs that the old is giving way to the new. They will not be content until they can give dust'free collection at reasonable cost. The annual demonstration indicates a determination to provide the best, and he paid tribute to makers who tried to understand the problems and offer their experience.
A 100 per cent. dustless loading system may come sooner if this co-operation be maintained. He thought the refuse receptacle will play a bigger part and it would be as well to consider the possibility of introducing standard types to meet local conditions.
Hygienic storage and economic collection must go together in every perfect system. There is no longer an excuse for the beastly refuse tip in built-up centres. Controlled tipping is used successfully in many countries. Much refuse must be disposed of by mechanical means, and great developments in the layout of disposal works have been effected. The introduction of efficient mechanical aids (motor sweepers, collectors, gully emptiers, snow ploughs,etc.) help to develop and cheapen street cleansing. Every local authority with a population over 75,000 should have a specialist public-cleansing officer.