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8
to note the chief facts concerning the social welfare
of the residents in the Borough.
The outstanding social fact continues to be
widespread unemployment, with a further substantial
percentage of the population on short time or earning
a very precarious livelihood. A large section of the
population has been subsisting for some years on the
limited resources of Unemployment Benefit, Public
Assistance and the charitable help of relatives and
friends. Recent enquiries concerning nutrition go to
show that the amount of assistance they receive is
inadequate to maintain the families of the unemployed
or low-wage workers in a proper state of health. Every
one who has studied the effects on health of the deprivations
arising from the Great War and during previous
industrial depressions cannot but be alarmed as to the
probable results of the present low standard of living.
These effects, as past experience shows, do not fully
show themselves immediately but express themselves
in a generally lowered resistance to disease for several
years later.
The administration of public assistance is 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 large number of
persons receiving public assistance (apart from those
obtaining medical relief only) which was 5,504 at the
end of 1933.