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7
FOREWORD.
Local Conditions arising from the Great War.
The birth-rate for 1919 was, of course, still affected by the absence of
fathers, the majority of whom were not demobilised until after March.
The War Pensions Committee (Secretary, Mr. L. W. C. Pettipiere) continued
their arduous labours during the year.
Overcrowding.—Conditions are still bad here. If stringent measures
were taken to abate this, as no small houses are to be had, it would only lead
to those dispersed producing over-crowding elsewhere.
Peace Celebrations.—Notwithstanding a protest from the Labour Party,
the Council and Education Committee jointly contributed £1,000 to provide
a festive meeting for the school children on 24th July.
Exeunt.—The military quitted the Baths on the 3rd March, the Town
Hall on the 5th March, the Recreation Ground in September, and Pymmes
Park on Saturday, July 31st.
Air-Raid Stations.—In January it was reported that the equipment of
the air-raid stations had been collected and checked, and a record made of
articles missing or moth-eaten; further, that the bedding, sheets, etc., had
been washed before their return to our temporary hospital at Picketts Lock
Lane; also that the artificial darkening had been removed from the windows
of the Town Hall.
Allotments.—In December the War Allotments Committee suggested
that any land of the Council, when available, should be let as permanent
allotments, and arrangements were proposed for continuing war allotments as
long as possible.
War Memorial.—The proposals referred to in my Report for 1918 met
with a luke-warm reception, and the project was abandoned.
Munition Works.—The Armistice established on 11th November, 1918,
was, of course, not long after followed by great changes in these, which either
became disused and the materials disposed of; but the old works, in most cases,
reverted to their old use or established fresh trades—such as pen-making—to
provide work for their employees and machinery. Strange to say, these changes
appear to have had little effect upon the over-crowding in Edmonton houses.
I suppose the families that flocked here to engage in war work are not able to
move out owing to their inability to find work and house accommodation
elsewhere.