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a
which have taken place in the borough during the past
year.
As in 1931, the outstanding social fact in the
Borough was widespread unemployment, fluctuating
during the last quarter of the year between 19.2 and
201 per cent of the insured adult males. A further
substantial percentage was on short time and earning
a very precarious livelihood. While unemployment
insurance benefit and public assistance go some way
to mitigate the worst results of this long continued acute
poverty of a large section of the population, I am
increasingly anxious concerning its eventual effect upon
the health standards of the Borough. It will be remembered
that the actual results of the physical deterioration
of the peoples of Central Europe in consequence
of the blockade during the Great War did not fully
manifest itself until after the War. Similarly it may
be that we shall not be able to estimate the true reflex
of the present deprivations for some years and not alone
in possibly raised morbidity and mortality rates but
in the set back to the rising standard of health which
was fairly definitely indicated before the present industrial
depression.
The administration of public assistance is now in
the hands of the London County Council. I have been
furnished, by the courtesy of the local Public Assistance
Officer, with the following figures concerning
public assistance granted during the year.
The grave state of unemployment and poverty in
the Borough is indicated by the increasing number of
persons receiving public assistance (apart from those
obtaining medical relief only) which was 4,016 at the
end of 1930, 4,764 at the end of 1931, and 5,764 at the
end of 1932.