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The Health of Barking
may have to be fitted with lifts. Again, too, it is important that, in order to get the
necessary light and air and general ventilation, blocks of flats should be surrounded
by relatively large areas of garden space, because even though children live in flats
they still require space in which to play.
Travelling Facilities.
How small the world is—one day I found myself on Charing Cross Station,
and it certainly seemed as though John is doomed this year to haunt me, because
I found him standing right by me, and when the train came in we somehow or
other wedged ourselves in. Talking was all but impossible and by the time the
train got to Barking my poor feet felt like two lumps of lead. I had a headache
and felt I was about to vomit at any time, and John, who is usually quite a decent
sort of fellow, was in a state of nerves that some people call " narky," and what
he said of the travelling facilities to Barking was nobody's business !
Elsewhere, and on numerous occasions I have set forth what I think about
these travelling facilities and that the condition under which people travel to and
from Barking is a serious factor in preventing them enjoying a proper measure of
health and happiness. Whether we like it or not the main reason is that Barking
is a dormitory town, and such a dormitory town should at least have a railway
service which does not add to the difficulties of people who are constrained by
force of circumstance to travel a long distance to their daily toil.
Years and years ago I did write that the underground railway to Barking was
the sewer that ran on four wheels and I was taken to task by a legal friend of mine,
in whose judgment and ability I have every confidence. He warned me that such
a statement might be actionable—all I can say is that no action was taken upon it,
but if such a statement was actionable when the line was administered by a private
company, it might be treasonable now ! But if I am to be locked up in the Tower,
I must protest that the Railway facilities to and from Barking are not only scandalous
from any ordinary standpoint but they are a serious menace to the health
of people and possibly contribute more to the ill-health of the people who have
to use them than any other factor.
Hospital Facilities.
It was during the year 1948 that it all changed over—the 5th July, 1948, was
history so far as hospitalisation in this country is concerned.
It had been obvious for a long time that there was a problem to be faced and that
the problem was nation-wide. Some people thought July 5th was going to see the
solution of all these problems. As a matter of fact, what occurred was a new
orientation towards the problem and a new chapter of hospital administration,
and it is hoped that there will, in time to come, grow something which is better
than we have had in the past and that the future will find a solution which perplexed
so many of us before the Appointed Day.
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