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6
of 1924. The Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1924, came
into operation during the year. The removal of cured cases from the
Tuberculosis register is thus provided for and more reliable statistics
regarding the disease become available.
Maternity and Child Welfare work has continued to grow in extent and
usefulness during the year. The attendances at the welfare centres
have increased from 5,046 in 1921 to 6,782 in 1925. I continue to receive
most valuable assistance from the Chelsea Health Society, and cannot
speak too highly of the efficiency of the Society's work.
Section III. of the report deals with Sanitary Administration. The
statistics indicate that constant attention is devoted to the improvement
of housing accommodation in the Borough. Although to less extent
than in other Metropolitan boroughs, this side of the work of the department
is frequently hampered by the inadequate number of houses available.
Your Housing Committee has been engaged for several months
in examining possible sites which might be utilised for a Housing Scheme,
but thus far their search has not led to the acquisition of a suitable site.
The task is rendered difficult by the fact that Chelsea is already largely
built up. There are few pieces of building land available, and the prices
demanded for these are extremely high—at least twice as high as the
Central Authorities are prepared to sanction for the purchase of land to
be utilised for the erection of buildings to house the working classes.
As in former years, much attention has been given to the supervision
of food supplies.
I have again to express my appreciation of the work of the staff of
the Public Health Department, and to thank the members of the Public
Health, Maternity, Child Welfare, and other Committees for the
support and sympathetic consideration which they have extended to
me, and for their keen attention to the problems which it has been my
duty to lay before them.
Copies of this report are being transmitted to the Ministry of Health,
the Home Office and the London County Council, in accordance with
statutory requirements,
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
w. h. l. McCarthy.