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38
In connection with Maternity and Child Welfare work generally, mention has recently been made
of the increasing number of necessitous families taking up residence in the Borough.
The records for the past year have been carefully analysed and show the immigration—taking
only the families coming within the purview of the Maternity and Child Welfare "Grants" Scheme—
to be somewhat extensive.
Of the 452 new families applying for grants during 1933, 188 (over 40 per cent.) had been in the
Borough less than six months; a further 96—-total 284 (60 per cent.) less than one year, and an
additional 37, total 321 (70 per cent.) less than two years.
One of the prime factors accounting for this incidence would seem to be the unduly large number
of one and two-roomed tenements available for letting in the Borough due to the "breaking-up" of
larger tenements and premises hitherto used as apartment and boarding houses. There, too, has been
a considerable exodus of families of the artizan type to new housing estates in suburban areas. To
emphasise this point it can be stated that not for many years has there been such a large number of
removals amongst the type of family usually associated with these grants. Over one-third of 200
families now on grant have changed their residences within the past eighteen months, some more
than once.
INVALID CHILDREN'S AID ASSOCIATION.
A grant of £10 in aid of the funds of the local branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association
was made.
CONVALESCENCE.
No cases of nursing mothers with babies were referred for convalescence.
In 29 instances the Council made grants towards the cost of children convalesced by the Invalid
Children's Aid Association, the total amount for the year being £69 5s. Od. A supplemental grant of
£24 was made in March, 1933, towards the extra cost of convalescence provided during the previous
year.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
During the year seven maternal deaths were enquired into by Dr. E. Dorothy Fenwick, the
Council's medical investigator, and reports thereon forwarded to the Ministry of Health. Particulars
of five other deaths on which inquests had been held were also transmitted to the Ministry.
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.
In pursuance of the Transfer of Powers (London) Order, 1933, the duties of the London County
Council in connection with infant life protection were transferred to the Borough Council as from the
1st April, 1933. These duties are laid down in Part I of the Children Act, 1908, as amended by
Part V of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1932, and relate to:—
(а) Reception of notices given by persons who undertake for reward the nursing and
maintenance in a dwelling of infants;
(b) Inspection of premises by Infant Protection Visitors, or other persons appointed by
the Council for that purpose;
(c) Fixing the number of infants to be kept in a dwelling in which any infant is received
for reward.
(d) Application to a Court or Justice for an Order directing the removal of an infant to a
place of safety.
The Council were fortunate in being able to secure the services of Miss M. E. Lockington, who for
many years had carried out the duties of Infant Protection Visitor in Paddington as an officer of the
London County Council. The work in the Borough therefore proceeded without interruption.