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9
Ministry of Health; and for the Wilford and Forster Road Area.
This had not been approved by the end of the year.
One of the most difficult of the Housing problems in Croydon,
is the conversion of old three or four storeyed houses, formerly
occupied by one family, into flats occupied by 4 or more families,
of whom at least one family live in the basement quarters. A
commencement has been made to deal with basements and unfit
attic rooms under the powers given by the Housing Act, 1936.
The usual close chemical and bacteriological watch has been
maintained on the milk supplies. 504 bacteriological and 370
chemical samples were submitted for analysis. 15 of the graded
milks were below the necessary standard; whilst for the ungraded
milks, those which failed to reach any graded milk standard numbered
99. Eleven of the 370 samples submitted for chemical
analysis, proved not to be genuine. Two samples of accredited milk
and 8 samples of ungraded milk contained Tubercle bacilli.
The year has been a full one, but its record has been marred
by the Typhoid outbreak, a catastrophe which could hardly have
been anticipated. It, however, served to emphasise the devotion
to duty and the loyalty of my staff, and I wish to express my
indebtedness to them for the way in which they met the emergency
and the cheerful manner in which heavy extra burdens were undertaken.
Criticism is made, from time to time, of the rising cost of the
social services, including those coming under the title of Public
Health. The blame for this increase should not be placed at the
door of the members of local government bodies, but rather before
the doors of Parliament. Enactments are, from time to time
passed for various reasons, in which the sponsors do not appear
always to have ascertained clearly beforehand the balance between
the cost entailed and the benefits likely to accrue. Local authorities
must carry out the Acts passed, which, though national, may apply
more particularly to certain areas.
I wish to tender my thanks to the Chairman and Members
of the Public Health Committee, the Housing Committee, the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, the Education Committee
and the Mental Deficiency Committee for the sympathetic
consideration they have given to any proposals submitted to them
and for the interest they have taken.
I am,
Yours faithfully,
OSCAR M. HOLDEN,
Medical Officer of Health.