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7
September. Sunny and mostly dry. The warmest day was the 2nd,
when temperature reached 80°F.
October. Rather cold. Sunshine was slightly above normal.
November. Dry ; very mild at first. Driest November since 1945
at Kew. First fortnight was particularly mild and changeable ; second
fortnight rather cold and cloudy.
December. Mild month, with temperatures about 4°F. above
average. As mild as in the previous year. Average month for sunshine.
Christmas holidays very mild.
Local Sanitary Authority
The Registrar General's estimate of population in the Borough for
1955 is 102,000. This shows a reduction of 1,100 as compared with the
previous year. Apart from the 1,000 persons who have removed from
the area there was a disconcerting trend of excess of deaths over births
by 122.
The present population figure of 102,000 is the same as the population
in 1903, and in that year there were 17,995 dwelling houses, whereas
at the end of 1955 there were 27,674, an increase of 53.78 per cent.
It is apparent that there are less occupants per housing unit and in
consequence there is less overcrowding. There is evidence that a number
of the properties are now under-occupied, and it is found that in some
cases there are one or two aged persons occupying a house which is too
large for them to manage and maintain on their own. Better use of the
accommodation in the Borough could be attained if a larger number of
small dwelling units were available in which to re-house some of the
aged people and, at the same time, release houses for the larger families.
Birth Rate.
It will be seen from the vital statistics that the birth rate is the
lowest ever recorded, being 11.13 per thousand of population in contrast
to the national figure of 15.00 per thousand. The disparity between the
Leyton and the national birth rates is, in the main, due to the greater
percentage in the older age groups and the removal from the Borough
of large numbers of people who are in the reproductive age groups.
Death Rate.
The death rate for the year is increased from 10.99 in 1954 to 12.33
in 1955, the actual deaths being 1,133 and 1,258 respectively. With an
ageing population there will, of necessity, be a slight increase in the
death rates that have appertained since 1946.
The causes of death, as set out in the statistical table, do not show
any special features. However, it is pleasing to note that the total
number of deaths for all forms of tuberculosis during the year is as low
as 12. No deaths from other infectious disease occurred during the year.
The major killing diseases are those due to the circulatory systems
and various forms of carcinoma. Cancer of the lung deaths show an
increase of 8 over the previous year.