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There appears also to be some improvement in the attitude adopted
towards the cleanliness and handling of food but this is counteracted
to some extent by the sale of food from stalls in the streets.
However well it is carried out the sale of food in the street can
never be as satisfactory as sale in a shop and cleanliness is bound
to suffer. It is true that with proper care contamination of food
sold from a stall can be prevented. It is equally true that with
proper precautions a woman can have a baby quite safely in a stable
but nobody would suggest that a stable is as satisfactory for this
purpose as a maternity home. The arguments against the abolition of
the sale of food from stalls, appear to be first that this form of
trading has been allowed for many years, secondly that its abolition
would cause hardship to the stallholders and thirdly (although I
doubt the truth of it) that it is cheaper for the housewife. I suggest
that as against cleanliness of food which the public is entitled to,
the arguments are without real substance. Similar arguments could be
applied much more forcibly to housing but nobody would suggest that
they would Justify the perpetuation.of slums. The disgusting state
of the roads towards the end of a day's trading adds nothing to the
amenities of the Borough and it would not be unreasonable to describe
those parts of Bethnal Green where street trading is carried on as a
food slum.
The work of the Public Health Department Is summarised in the
report which follows and the Divisional Medical Officer, Dr. G.O.
Mitchell, has again kindly supplied me with some particulars of the
personal health services which are, of course, the responsibility of
the London County Council.
I would like to thank the Chairman and Members of the Public
Health Committee for their encouragement and support throughout the
year. I would also like to thank the Chief Officers of the Council
and their staffs for their ready assistance and advice at all times
and my own staff in particular for their very loyal help on every
occasion.
I have the honour to be
Your obedient Servant,
R. DUNCAN DEWAR,
Medical Officer of Health.