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short time and unemployment, and while this continued
a number of children of school age were provided with
free meals.
The children on the whole are well fed and of good
physique. There is plenty of open country in the
district and around it. There is at present some overcrowding
owing to the shortage of houses.
The general condition of the houses in the district
is not so good as it was before the war, but steps are
being taken to bring about the necessary improvement,
though the cost of materials, &c., somewhat delays
matters.
The Sanitary condition is fairly good, the Birth
Rate is above the average, while the Death Rate and
the Infantile Mortality Rate are both well below the
average for the country at large and that for similar
areas.
F.—Review of Methods employed or available for
Treatment of Defects, etc.
Two years ago a School Clinic for minor ailments,
&c., was started in the Old Council Offices, High Street,
and in my opinion has been of great benefit to the
children of the schools. It has increased in its volume
of work and in the number of children attending it.
Very many of these are sent direct by their parents,
and in many cases are brought by them for advice and
treatment for any minor ailment. It has become necessary
to have larger premises for the amount of the work
that is being done, and so we are looking forward very
shortly to occupying our new premises at " Hainault,"
Lesaey Park Road. We hope there to carry out much
that has been hitherto left undone, through lack of
accommodation and staff, a second School Nurse proving
an absolute necessity, if the condition of the children in
the schools is not to be overlooked.
We also hope to carry out the necessary treatment
in throat cases, and so be independent af the Hospital
Authorities in London, who have not always served us
well nor kept their promises to the parents who had
placed themselves under their treatment. Many who
have been sent up during the year have returned to us,