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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. Some
indications of the economic conditions prevailing in the Borough
are to be found in the following figures:—
Residents of Battersea registered as unemployed:—
20th January, 1936 4,559 25th January, 1937 3,382
27th April, „ 3,573 19th April, „ 2,850
20th July, „ 2,890 26th July, „ 2,634
26th October, „ 2,998 18th October, „ 3,089
Out-door relief granted at various dates:—
1936 Cases Persons 1937. Cases Persons
28th March 1,545 2,794 27th March 1,560 2,721
27th June 1,458 2,516 26th June 1,451 2,368
26th Sept 1,461 2,529 25th Sept 1,412 2,260
26th Dec. 1,532 2,624 25th Dec. 1,506 2,444
There were, in addition, a small number of persons who
received medical relief only.
The first of the above tables shows a decline of 15, and the
second of 6½ per cent. for the year 1937 compared with 1936.
I am indebted to the Chief Officers of the London County
Council for the second of the above tables, and for those on the next
two pages relating to the inspection of elementary school children.
On the average 246 children per month received free dinners
in the elementary schools, and 904 per month received free milk,
apart from the numbers who obtained cheap milk under the scheme
of the Milk Marketing Board. These two figures taken together
represent an increase of 30 per cent. on those for 1936.
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., page 29 dealing with the supply of milk by the
Council, and pages 109, &c., as to factories, &c., and the numbers
employed therein.