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6
Centres (16), with the exception of the Municipal, are organised
by the Croydon Mothers' and Infants' Welfare Association, with
the aid of a grant from the Corporation, and the supply of a
doctor and nurse from the Public Health Staff. During the
year the Association handed over the Home Helps Scheme
which they had started, to the Corporation, and this has been
continued by the Public Health Department. It is expanding,
and the demands made upon it are greater than the available
number of Home Helps. Every effort is being made to find suitable
women to act in this capacity. The Public Health Committee
also took over the distribution of dried foods, etc., at Infant
Welfare Centres, and the coupon system was tried. After a few
initial minor difficulties, the scheme is working very smoothly and
effectively.
The work of the Sanitary Inspectors is given in detail in
Section XIII. New legislation has added to their multifarious
duties, whilst practically half their time has been spent on housing
inspections under the Housing Act, 1935, more especially with
regard to overcrowding and the remedying of housing defects,
The Census of Overcrowding showed that in a total of 17,549
families investigated, 650 were found to be overcrowded, and the
number of individuals affected was 3,686. During the year, 108
overcrowded families were dealt with and the overcrowding
relieved.
The five-years plan has been pursued, surveys have been
made of the Leighton Street area, and a Clearance Order been
obtained for a portion of that area; also of the Wilford and
Forster Road area and the rest of the Leighton Street area with a
view to Redevelopment Schemes.
One of the chief difficulties which will have to be overcome is
overcrowding in large private houses adapted as tenements, more
especially those in which the basement is let as a separate tenement.
There are a large number of these houses in Croydon,
and in many the basement, although it does not fall within tin
definition of an underground dwelling, is unsatisfactory for use
as a dwelling house on account of dampness and lack of proper
light and ventilation. The new powers under the Housing Act,
1936, should be useful, used in conjunction with the Byelaws
adopted by the Council on October 29th, 1936, in dealing with
properties of this description.
A perusal, even if only cursory, of the contents of this report,
will, it is hoped, show how thoroughly the Corporation