VARIOUS SHOTS OF RUBBISH PILING UP IN STREETS.




Initials JSU/V/MR/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ELEGANT ROME BECAME THE DIRTIEST CITY IN ITALY YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) AS RUBBISH PILED UP ON ITS STREETS DUE TO A THREE-DAY STRIKE BY DUSTMEN. THE STRIKE COINCIDED WITH A REPORT FROM THE CITY MEDICAL OFFICER, PROFESSOR GAETANO DEL VECCHIO, BRANDING ROME DIRTY AND WARNING AGAINST SERIOUS DANGERS TO THE HEALTH OF ITS 2,700,000 RESIDENTS.

THE DUSTMEN STOPPED COLLECTING REFUSE ON THURSDAY (9 NOV) IN PROTEST AGAINST WORKING CONDITIONS AND SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES.

PROFESSOR DEL VECCHIO TOLD THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL THAT THE HEALTH CONTROLS ON THE SALE OF FOOD AND DRINK WERE INADEQUATE. MANY BUILDINGS, HE ADDED, HAD POOR SANITATION AND THE TIBER RIVER WAS SMELLY IN CERTAIN AREAS.

HIS REPORT SAID THAT LAST YEAR 322 CASES OF FOOD POISONING WERE REPORTED IN ROME AND NOTED THAT THE CITY HAD ONLY 27 FOOD INSPECTORS -- ONE OF EVERY 100,000 PEOPLE.

ROME'S SANITARY PROBLEMS ARE COMPOUNDED BY ITS HEAVY DEBTS.

MAYOR AMERIGO PETRUCCI WARNED THE ITALIAN TREASURY LAST SEPTEMBER THAT CITY SERVICES RANGING FROM BUSES TO REFUSE COLLECTION WOULD HAVE TO SHUT DOWN IF HE DID NOT GET A LOAN OF 13,000 MILLION (ABOUT 7,470,000 STERLING) LIRE.

HE GOT THE LOAN BUT IT IS ESTIMATED THAT BY 1970 ROME WILL BE SEEKING LOANS AGAIN -- NOT ONLY TO PAY PUBLIC SERVICES BUT TO PAY THE INTEREST DUE ON ITS OLD DEBTS.