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In 1924 the present Town Hall and park had been acquired
and were brought Into use and now the Registrar General was
providing the estimated population figure of 8,238. The Medical
Officer complained about the cottages at Hayes Gate where for
lack of facilities the pail closets were emptied outside the
doors and the water seeped back into the surface wells which
were the only available water supply.
In 1930 Hayes was united with Harlingtor. and Cranford, and
tad a population of 17,950, 5,702 houses and an infant mortality
rate of 64.51. Once again the deficiency of houses is commented
upon and the number of applicants on the housing list is given
as 2,066. By now however, there were only 7 houses without
water closets or other adequate sanitary accommodation. Two
years later the horse-drawn refuse wagons were replaced by
motors. In 1934 the boundaries were altered again and that
Part of Cranford east of the River Crane was transferred to
Heston and Isleworth reducing the area of the district from
5,513 to 5,161 acres.
Diphtheria immunisation was started late in 1935 and its
success was apparent by 1937 when diphtheria notifications
dropped by 80% compared with the previous year's figures. Also
in 1937 the first old people's bungalows were built, with a
rent of 5s. Od. per week inclusive of rates.
Prom 1939-1945 abridged reports consisting only of statistics
were published owing to the war, and there was continual
movement of the staff into H.M. Forces. There was a rise in
the notifications of tuberculosis and overcrowding in the district
was commented upon. By 1946 the working population was
64,650 the infant mortality rate was 24.46, the birth rate war,
rising and the death rate falling.
In July, 1948 the National Health Service Act came into
operation. The two cottage hospitals, previously subsidised by
a penny rate were transferred to the regional hospital board,
responsibility for diphtheria immunisation and the ambulance
service went to the County Council, and the issue of free insulin,
started in 1943, lapsed. Since then the emphasis of the work
has been on environmental matters. High standards of food
hygiene in shops etc. were obtained on a voluntary basis before
legislation requiring these was introduced in 1955, the 10
year Clean Air programme mentioned elsewhere in the report was
drawn up and is now nearly completed and work is in progress to
Persuade owners of houses lacking the standard amenities of
bath, wash hand basin, indoor water closet, hot water supply
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