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opened. Once again the Borough Librarian and his staff readily
co-operated with the Public Health Department, and many thousands of
bookmarks were distributed to members of the public using the Council's
libraries.
Posters dealing with a variety of health topics were displayed
at regular intervals during the year on the ex-Empire Marketing Board
poster frames in the borough. There now remain only nine of these
frames in Kensington; they were presented to the Council over thirty
years ago. Having regard to their age and condition, the Public
Health Committee have decided to replace them with smaller poster boards
of modern design, capable of displaying four double-crown posters
(20" x 30"). This work is to commence in 1959 and the boards will be
replaced at the rate of three per year.
Home Safety
The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1957, enables
a Metropolitan Borough Council to make arrangements for the dissemination
of information and advice for the purpose of promoting safety in the home.
Good use was made of this new power during the year 1958 and an
intensive home safety propaganda campaign was introduced in an endeavour
to make the public aware of the dangers which exist in every home.
Early in 1958, Circular No. 6/50 was received from the Minister
of Health, expressing concern at the number of casualties arising from
accidents in the home, and stating that the Government proposed to initiate
a National Campaign aimed at reducing the number of home accidents caused
by clothing coming in contact with unguarded fires.
This Campaign commenced on 3rd November, 1958, when the
Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon. R.A. Butler, C.H. , M.P., opened an exhibition
arranged by the London County Council at County Hall in support of the
Campaign, National newspapers and periodicals, the television
companies and large firms, notably insurance companies, co-operated
in many ways.
The Public Health Committee decided to augment the National
Campaign by a local campaign in Kensington during December, 1958.
Posters and leaflets were distributed to approximately one hundred
organisations in the borough-youth clubs, old people's clubs, large
business houses, industrial concerns, voluntary organisations, hospitals,
etc. Poster displays were arranged at Council offices and other
buildings. Leaflets were available to members of the public visiting
the Council's offices, and bookmarks were issued through the Borough
libraries.
The local newspapers, Electricity Board and Gas Board,
readily co-operated with the Council, and special displays of posters
were arranged at the Boards' showrooms. Arrangements were made with
the local cinemas to show special film trailers and slides dealing with
home safety during the campaign periodo
There are many leaflets available dealing with accident
prevention, but it was felt that no composite leaflet had been produced
by any organisation outlining the action which should be taken in the
event of an accident occurring. A special leaflet was devised by the
Public Health Department, entitled "The Household Code". Five thousand
copies were widely distributed as part of the local home safety campaign.
The leaflets aroused a great deal of interest and comments appeared in
several national newspapers, and local newspapers throughout the country,
and in several women's magazines and other periodicals. This publicity
created considerable demand and the initial printing was soon exhausted.
A further five thousand copies were produced and distributed early in
1959.
Leaflets were obtained from the Ministry of Health and the