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MORTALITY

In the Annual Report for 1955 I stated that, so far as could be
ascertained, there were no factors operating specifically in Southgate
which had an appreciable effect on the local death rate. I can add
little to this statement. Incidentally, as already indicated, we have
started the task of slum clearance, a term which I have never particularly
liked. We also look forward to setting up our first smoke
control area in the near future. Meantime, we shall continue to
take such steps as are practicable to ensure that conditions which
might be regarded as dangerous to health and life itself are reduced,
if not eliminated from the Borough.
With regard to the major causes of death as shown by the
Registrar-General's return—deaths from diseases of the heart and
circulation and lung cancer—I am convinced that these matters
should not be given too great publicity, at least locally. These
problems are national, and must be tackled on a national level. I
have never had any hesitation in dealing with these problems, particularly
by way of question and answer. I cannot help feeling,
however, that sufficient publicity is given by means of the national
press, radio and television. Any local campaign designed to focus
attention on these major causes of death might, in my submission,
have an unfortunate result. It is for this reason that I have avoided
focussing the spotlight of publicity on these two particular problems.
Infant Mortality.
There were 11 deaths of infants under 1 year of age, which
gives an infant death rate of 13.8 per 1,000 births, as compared
with 15 deaths and a rate of 19.3 in the preceding year.
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