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well below the national figure. The infant mortality rate approximates
very closely to the figure for the country as a whole and
there were no maternal deaths. When we come to deaths in general,
we note a continuing laudable reluctance to die on the part of the
local citizens, the death rate remaining below that for England and
Wales once again. The year under consideration was one in which
a census was taken, but at the moment the more detailed figures
which will eventually be forthcoming have not yet been published.
We have for many years had a satisfactory water supply and
our food, although there is still room for improvement, is gradually
being produced and handled more hygienically, but so far little has
been done to improve the purity of the air we breathe. Clean Air is
undoubtedly a matter very dear to the hearts of all those in the
Public Health Service, and it is indeed good to know that the first
survey to be undertaken with regard to smoke control areas is now
under way, and is merely the precursor to other surveys to be conducted
in the future years with the object of eventually making the
whole area smoke controlled.
During the year the Government made known its intentions
with regard to the future of local government in the Greater Lqdon
Area As far as the Public Health Committee is concerned,She
decisions mean that in combination with three other local authorities
this Council's Members would administer almost all the Health
Services both personal and environmental. The exact alignment
of the local authorities concerned had not been finally decided at
the time of writing, but in view of the Government's declared policy,
it is interesting to quote some words writen by my predecessor. Dr.
K. E. Tapper, in a report to another authority in 1950
"The day must come when local incentive and local interest
will require truly local government. With development of new
estates, shops, houses, and transport, the boundaries of local authorities
are no longer defined, and amalgamation of authorities is a
natural sequence. Large enough to be financially sound and small
enough so that the administrator, the elected representative and the
electorate, are members of a team and can excercise their functions
without reference to forms and form-filling."
In compiling a report such as this, one is conscious of the
great assistance rendered by other persons, and it does afford me
great pleasure to thank Mr. Kermode. the Chief Public Health Inspector,
for his very major part in the production of this effort. I
should also like to thank him and the other members of the staff for
their sustained efforts throughout the year. In his quiet but none
the less highly efficient manner, the Deputy Medical Officer of
Health, Dr. Kelynack, ha9 been a most invaluable asset to both the
Department and myself, and I am deeply grateful to him. The