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amenities for each and every family. In my own opinion until
these essentials are attained the 'Positive Health' of which we
spoke so glibly when discussing our National Health Services
will not mature. Almost daily I receive medical certificates
from doctors in general practice and hospitals concerning
patients suffering from "acute anxiety states," "acute neurosis,"
etc., due to unsatisfactory or bad housing conditions.
On investigation it is found that many of our citizens have
perforce to accept accommodation—one cannot call them
homes—of two or three rooms with two or three other families
occupying other rooms of the same house which formerly was
for single occupation. In other cases one finds a young married
couple occupying a room in the house of in-laws. Without
going into detail it must be quite obvious how such conditions
lead to family and neighbourly strife and quarrels, and the
terrible mental effects it produces on those who have to endure
them, to say nothing of the frustration caused to children who
are not allowed to play because of the "people underneath."
Such conditions are not peculiar to this Borough; they prevail
in most large towns and cities. Is there any wonder that our
doctors' surgeries and hospitals are filled daily with wretched
people suffering from various forms of nervous complaints and
conditions which follow in the wake of mental disturbances
of this kind ? These conditions are preventable, but not bv
pills and potions—hence the concern of this Council and the
Government to build more houses as quickly as possible, and
to modernise those older houses which are suitable for this
purpose.
The remedy is somewhat slow, difficult and costly, but
when this objective is attained it will pay high dividends,
in happiness, contentment and health, and all that follows as a
consequence of this well-being.
The problem of the "Old People" is a growing one. The
census figures of 1951 show that in the Borough there are 10,396
persons of 65 years and over made up of 6,171 females and
4,225 males. This is about 1,000 less than at the time of the
1931 census, but in those days the population was almost double
that of today. Relatively, therefore, there is a much larger
proportion of people of 65 plus today.
I am happy to report that the work of the voluntary Old
People's Welfare Committee is progressing very satisfactorilv
and the services rendered are increasing thanks to the aid
given by way of grants from the Borough Council and London
County Council.
Food inspection in the shops, markets and wharves receives
particular attention of your officers. It is satisfactory to note
that during this year it was possible to inspect a larger quantity