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maternity and child welfare centres, clinics, treatment centres, &c.,
available to inhabitants of the City.
Lectures, demonstrations and film displays were arranged at the
Council's welfare centres, as mentioned elsewhere in this report.
Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937.—This Act came into
operation in July, 1937, its object being to extend the existing powers
of local authorities, mainly Education Authorities, to enable them to
provide further facilities for physical training and recreation, and thereby
to assist in improving the health and general physical standard of the
nation.
The Act deals with community centres on housing estates provided
by local authorities under the Housing Acts, gymnasia and playing fields,
holiday camps, swimming baths, &c., and provides for co-operation
between authorities, who are empowered to contribute towards expenses
incurred by a neighbouring authority in establishing various facilities.
Day Nurseries.—The City of Westminster Day Nursery, which is
administered by a voluntary association, and which has for many years
been conducted at 147, Warwick Street, was transferred on 1st December
to new premises provided by the Council in Bessborough Street, as
described elsewhere in this report. The old Nursery provided accommodation
for forty children, whereas some eighty to ninety can be catered
for in the new premises as well as some half-a-dozen resident children.
The total attendances at the Nursery were 8,549 by 91 individual
children in the following age groups:—
(a) Under one year—34.
(b) Over one year and under three years—28.
(c) Over three years and under five years—29.
The average daily attendance during the year was 28.
The Nursery is open on five and a half days in the week for children,
the charge to parents being 5s. for each child per week with remissions in
special cases. The charges for resident children range from 12s. 6d. to
15s. per week.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Water.—With the exception of certain premises which are supplied
with water from deep wells, the whole of Westminster takes its supply
from the Metropolitan Water Board. During the year two deep wells
were sunk, one at 25, Buckingham Gate and one at the Odeon Theatre,
Leicester Square.