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19
SOCIAL CONDITIONS.
Battersea is in the main a working-class Borough, and though
there are two or three large factories within its borders, the majority
of the inhabitants travel to other areas for their daily work. Like
other districts it has suffered (and still suffers) severely from unemployment,
but the following figures of the number of persons
registered as unemployed at the local exchange at various dates in
1935 and 1936 indicate an improved outlook in this respect.
Residents of Battersea registered as unemployed :—
28th January, 1935
5,039
20th January, 1936
4,559
15th April
4,063
27th April
3,573
22nd July
3,880
20th July
2,890
21st October/
3,899
26th October
2,998
The figures for 1936 in total show a decline of 17 per cent,
on the previous year.
The following figures were kindly supplied to me by the Chief
Officer of Public Assistance, London County Council. They relate
to out-door relief granted to residents of Battersea at various dates
in 1935 and 1936 •—
1935.
Cases
Persons
1936
Cases
Persons
30th Maich
1,471
2,744
28th March
1,545
2,794
29th June
1,424
2,563
27th June
1,458
2,516
28th Sept
1,431
2,496
26th Sept
1,461
2,529
28th Dec
1,484
2,663
26th Dec
1,532
2,624
There were, in addition, a small number of persons who
received medical relief only.
I am also indebted to the Chief Officers of the London County
Council for the tables on the next two pages relating to the
inspection of elementary school children.
It is curious to note in the first table that although from
the figures given under " Clothing and Boots " it may be inferred
that the economic condition of Battersea families is on the whole
above the average, the item " Nutrition " seems to negative the
inference. The items relating to cleanliness are on the whole
satisfactory.
On the average 200 children per month received free dinners
in the elementary schools, and 680 per month received free milk,
apart from the numbers who obtained cheap milk under the scheme
of the Milk Marketing Board.
Other facts bearing on the social and economic conditions of the
inhabitants of the Borough may be inferred from various paragraphs
in this report, e.g., pages 28 and 29 dealing with the supply of milk
by the Council, and pages 111, &c., as to factories, &c., and the
numbers employed therein.