View report page

child is given a good raid-day meal, and I have no doubt
that this well balanced meal is probably the largest
single factor in producing a five year old child of good
nutrition. Now in this district, where few of the fathers
return home for a mid-day dinner, the mother has to
prepare his dinner for early evening and the preparation
of two dinners becomes an extra burden on the
already harassed housewife. In the end the children
have to go with a makeshift mid-day meal washed
down with tea. In 1938, with the possibilities of providing
canteen meals at works for the fathers at a very
cheap rate, the makeshift meal for the child at home
should cease.
The Council supply the district with electricity and
the South Suburban Gas Company supply gas.
The following open spaces have been provided by
the Council: —
Danson Park, Welling 210 acres
Bexley Recreation Ground 10.80 ,,
A portion of Bexley Woods 27.25 ,,
Hall Place 64.50 „
Russell Park 13.00 „
Bursted Wood 14.60 ,,
Riverside Walk 10.50 ,,
and other small spaces giving a total of nearly 400 acres.
It is estimated that when all land now in negotiation
for open spaces is acquired, over 9 per cent of the
acreage in the district will be as open spaces and available
for the public. This wise provision will no doubt
reflect in the healthiness of the population.
Facilities for outdoor games are provided or to be
provided in many of these open spaces, including the
new large Swimming Pool in Danson Park, opened in
July, 1936.
EXTRACTS FROM VITAL STATISTICS FOR THE
YEAR, 1937.
For the purposes of calculation the Registrar
General's Modified Estimate of population, viz., 74,350,
specially designed for use with the composite records of
births, deaths and notifiable diseases of the year 1937,
is used, as the district has been subject to alterations of
boundary.
10