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As has been pointed out in previous reports, the
larger proportion of the exchange register is made up
of employees in the building trades. The weather conditions
control the present numbers of unemployed and
the severe weather at the end of the year is, therefore,
probably reflected in the numbers of unemployed. It is
noted, however, that the numbers have been rising each
year, and the percentage unemployed of the total
population is also rising. This feature is seen in the
increasing amount expended by the Council in providing
free milk for mothers and children over and above any
increasing amount due to the adoption of a more liberal
scale. I may be taking a pessimistic view and I have
no special knowledge of trade conditions, nor have we
for this Borough any Census report giving occupational
figures for the present population, but I do anticipate
further rises in the number of unemployed in the
Borough and a further demand for free milk.
Nutrition.
There is no statistical or other evidence that malnutrition
is increasing in the Borough or that the position
in this Borough is worse than in similar areas in
Greater London.
From my remarks under this heading in the last
Annual Report the impression may have been gathered
that I was of the opinion that existing malnutrition was
entirely due to ignorance of food values, and the nonprovision
of a properly balanced mid-day meal for
toddlers and school children. The food purchasing
power of the family must be sufficient and is of paramount
importance, and many families in the Borough
suffer because of low and insufficient wages, but where
the Health Services can help directly is in teaching
mothers, and this service has been put into direct operation
by cookery classes at the clinics where food values
and so on are explained.
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