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49
The Chairmen,
Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare Committees.
Dear Mr. Chairman,
THE FIVE YEAR PLAN.
The incongruity of the world to-day in which all the
discoveries of modern science that can and have increased the
scope of each individual's life are now organised to terrify and
destroy the individual, will produce a profound change in the
outlook of those who survive the present dangers. Some by
concentrating on unworldly things may achieve the peace of
mind for which they yearn, but the majority will unconsciously
seek to allay their bewilderment by identifying themselves with
some plan for curing the evils which surround them, thereby
finding for their mental energies an outlet much more satisfying
than a state of hesitant inaction.
It is in regard to the latter reaction that I present to you
my impressions of what may constitute the 44 Five Year Plan
in Public Health " in this borough.
In your terms of reference you ask me to indicate in some
degree the priority that could be assigned to the various
ventures. May I say therefore straight away, that with 233
families in t he district to be re-housed, and 475 houses
demolished as a result of enemy action, I could not conscientiously
advise the Authority to undertake any of these works
until the 500 new homes have been supplied. In this connection,
it would appear that during the next five years the choice will
not be between the Portal sub-standard house and the good
municipal type house, which we all hope to see built in the
near future, but between the Portal or some pre-fabricated
house on the one hand, and on the other no house at all, or
cramped rooms. It is admitted that the Portal house is not
a first-class home, and I look forward to the time when I shall
personally be agitating for its complete abolition, but it can
be a temporary home, and a better temporary home than can
be provided by other means than are at our disposal.
The people in urban areas are much more verminous than
is generally supposed and recent investigations have probably
surprised many medical officers. After making every allowance
for the damage that can be done by a small group of chronic
offenders, it is obvious that a substantial proportion of the
population lack the essentials for the maintenance of personal
cleanliness—namely, soap, hot water, and the desire to be clean.
Through no fault of their own, many of them lack easily