View report page

8
as they returned, and in most cases the displacement of the women
war-workers is complete.
Some of the married women have returned to work in the
laundries, but the number is probably smaller than it was in the
pre-war period, and the total number employed in extra-domestic
duties is much lower than it was during the war.
At the present time, the industries which employ the largest
number of persons are the Engineering Works—Motor, Electrical
and General. There are 3 very large motor works in the neighbourhood
of the Vale in the southern portion of the North-East Ward,
and another factory situated in the South-East Ward on the Southern
side of the railway. There is a considerable number of other
engineering works in the northern portion of the North-East and
North-West Wards.
The three engineering works in the Vale employ between
5,000 and 6,000 persons.
The engineering works in the district employ, including the
clerical staff, between 9,000 and 10,000 persons and of these about
1,500 are women.
The other industries include a large Dyeing, Bleaching and
Cleaning Factory in the Vale, Soap and Perfume Works in the Vale
and Chandos Road, Lithographic and Advertising Printing, Music
Printing, Geographical Printing, Preserve making in the Steyne,
and an Aeroplane Factory in the North-West Ward. In all these
a large proportion of the employees are women.
Temporary Offices have been erected by the Ministry of
Pensions and permanent ones are in course of erection. The latter
will have accommodation for several thousand clerks.
Vital Statistics.
The vital statistics for the year are exceedingly satisfactory.
The birth-rate is higher and the death-rate is considerably lower than
in 1918. The birth-rate, though, is still 2.9 per 1,000 lower than
that of the 96 Great Towns and 1.3 per 1,000 lower than that of
London.
The death-rate, —10.4 per 1,000 inhabitants, is the lowest on
record for the district. It is 4.3 per 1,000 lower than that of 1918.
It would not be fair to compare the death-rates of 1918 and 1919.