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3
London, with its contrasts of population, its fashion and glamour,
its ebb and flow of foreign visitors, and its large proportion in certain
quarters of leisured rich, might easily be misunderstood. We sometimes
forget that London is a large manufacturing centre, the largest indeed in
the world. It does not concern itself so much as our northern capitals
with the working up of raw materials, but uses chiefly, partly manufactured
articles. Southwark is essentially a manufacturing borough and
is getting more and more so every year. There is hardly a business of
any kind which is not well represented in the district. It is both a rich
and a poor borough, rich in its trade, but poor in its inhabitants. On
the latter account it is not likely, in the future, to be able to boast of its
low death.rate. In my opinion the Public Health Authority of Southwark
for many years past, has had much to be proud of in the district's
comparatively low death.rate, and its freedom from infectious disease. It
must be confessed, however, that some portions of the borough are very
old and dilapidated. Some of this old worn out part will be demolished
when the approach to the new bridge is made. I am sorry to see the
Tabard Street clearance scheme progressing so slowly, it is not likely to be
finished in our generation, unless a little more energy is put into the work.