London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Barking 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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18
7. SOCIAL CONDITIONS.
(a) Industries.—Some of the chief industries carried on in the area are as follows :—
The production of electricity, gas, benzole, naphtha and zinc oxide.
The manufacture of asbestos goods, joinery, ice-cream, letter files, mineral
waters, marine lights, disinfectants, printing ink, sausage skins, cabinets
and furniture, nautical instruments, paint, iron goods, tin boxes, lifebelts,
rubber goods, wireless equipment and batteries, matches, soap, chemical
manure, wood-paving and concrete paving.
The storage of petrol, oil, fuel and timber.
Electrical welding, structural engineering and saw-milling.
The population of Barking is almost entirely industrial. Barking is becoming
a dormitory.
(b) Unemployment.—The following table is compiled from information kindly
supplied by the Manager of the Ministry of Labour Employment Exchange,
Barking :—
Copy of comparative statement of local unemployed by industries, as at December, 1933 and December, 1934 :—
| Men. | Dec., 1933 | Dec., 1934 | Women. | Dec., 1933 | Dee., 1934 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | 043 | 401 | Engineering | 2 | 3 |
| Saw-milling | 16 | 8 | Construction of Vehicles | 3 | — |
| Constructional Work | 45 | 45 | Electrical Apparatus | 11 | 6 |
| Shipbuilding | 20 | 17 | Miscellaneous Metal Goods | 13 | 10 |
| Construction of Vehicles | 1 | 15 | Chemicals | 6 | 2 |
| Engineering | 128 | 103 | Rubber | 57 | 70 |
| Cabinet Making | 17 | 19 | Leather | 3 | 4 |
| Iron and Steel | 2 | 6 | Domestic Service | 70 | 00 |
| Electrical Apparatus | 13 | 19 | Commercial | 33 | 40 |
| Precious Metal | 7 | 5 | Road and Water Transport | 25 | 20 |
| Bricks | 6 | 4 | Agriculture | 10 | 12 |
| Chemicals | 11 | 19 | Paper, Printing, etc. | 12 | 12 |
| Rubber | 18 | 30 | Clothing | 20 | 25 |
| Leather | 4 | 13 | Other Textiles | 6 | — |
| Baskets | 1 | 2 | Food | 19 | 34 |
| Domestic Scrvice | 38 | 45 | Tobacco, etc. | 8 | 8 |
| Commercial | 53 | 05 | M iscellaneous | 45 | 52 |
| Railway Transport, | 8 | 15 | Government and Professional | 4 | 5 |
| Boad and Water Transport | 163 | 206 | |||
| Agriculture | 6 | 2 | |||
| Mining | 2 | 1 | |||
| Paper and Printing | 8 | 14 | |||
| Clothing | 24 | 31 | |||
| Tobacco, etc. | 2 | 9 | |||
| Food | 12 | 12 | |||
| Gas, Water, etc. | 12 | 12 | |||
| Misc. (including unskilled) | 584 | 790 | |||
| Professional | 6 | 12 | |||
| Dock Workers | 107 | 90 | |||
| Total | 1,957 | 2,076 | Total | 347 | 363 |