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9
FOREWORD.
Local Conditions arising from the Great War.
During the year Edmonton has shared the many new conditions that have
affected other areas, such as diminished lighting, whitened kerbs and trees,
restricted hours for the sale of alcohol, the reception of food gifts from Canada,
frequent "flag days," the great increase of women workers, of rent and prices
generally, but the last two have been compensated for by the increased wages.
Wise precautions against air raids from hostile airships and aeroplanes, or for
dealing with their results, were taken in June. By November a number of
first-aid stations had been organised by the doctors and other voluntary
workers.
From March ist, the Great Eastern Railway Company re-opened its
Cbeshunt branch from Lower Edmonton, mainly for the benefit of munition
workers.
Following a letter of the nth March, Mr. Eyles, of the Local Government
Board, on April 14th had a consultation with the Chairman of the Council and
the Heads of Departments as to the release of as many workmen as possible
for munition works.
In May I presented to the Sanitary Committee the Local Government
Board pamphlet, "April, 1915," which combined recent documents on the
co-operation of the military and civil authorities in sanitary matters, issued by
the Home Office, War Office and the Local Government Board.
A letter, dated 14th June, from the Local Government Board suggested
that, during the war, some modification might be necessary in the usual
provision of separate sanitary accommodation for each sex, in the smaller shops,
by the provision of free use of public conveniences, or the closets of the
neighbouring houses.
In June the offices of the Distress Committee were utilised as a recruiting
centre for munition workers; in August this work was transferred to Tottenham
Labour Exchange. Then the rooms were utilised for recruiting under "the
Lord Derby scheme."
At the Sanitary Committee of 7th July, a circular letter was read from a
property owners' association suggesting that, for the period of the war, all
Loca1 Sanitary Authorities should hold their hands and discontinue sanitary
notices and orders. With this proposal my Committee declined to agree.