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TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF THE
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF POPLAR
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report on the health and sanitary
circumstances of the Borough for 1954.
The health of the people as judged from the reduced death rates and the
smaller number of cases of notifiable infectious disease has been satisfactory
and it is thought that the number of cases of diseases which are not notifiable
was also less although no figures are available.
It is difficult to produce a measure of actual health as distinct from death
and disease, but the general well being of the population can be judged to some
extent by general living conditions, housing, clothing, feeding, etc. and there
is no doubt that there was an improvement during 1954.
Housing, which has a considerable effect on the health of the people remains
one of the most important matters with which the Council is concerned. The Housing
Repairs and Rents Act was passed during the year and came into effect at the end
of August 1954. The intention of the Act was to ensure as far as possible the
rapid demolition of houses which could not be made fit and the preservation of
houses which could be made fit but which owing to the high cost of repairs were
not being adequately maintained.
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