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12
Infantile Mortality.
The Infant Mortality rate for the year is 19.2 per 1,000 live
births. 18 infants died during 1951 before reaching their first
birthday :—
Died in first four weeks of life 12
Died within first week and twelfth month 6
The Infant Mortality Rate compares favourably with last
year's rate which was 24.9.
Unemployment.
There is no doubt whatever that during years of full employment
there is a consequent improvement in the health of the
population.
I am indebted to the Manager of the Local Employment
Exchange for the following information :—
" At the beginning of the year the Unemployed Register had
been increased by men from the building trades (mainly
painters) who were affected by seasonal slackness—otherwise the
register consisted generally of older men and those who were
limited to light work owing to disabilities.
On the Women's side the register contained a number of
married women seeking part-time work and others who wanted
certain kinds of employment for which there was little demand.
It was possible to place a few part-time workers, with local
laundries on evening work and also with a large bakery.
With the improved weather in April the position changed
appreciably and men returned to building and decorating whilst
women were employed in local factories and a wide range of
other industries. This improvement continued throughout the
summer months with a special demand for building workers and
women for catering, laundries, domestic service and the retail
distributive trades.
The last quarter of the year approached with demands
steadily continuing for building, food process and hospital labour
and the Women's department also enjoyed a busy quarter due to
trades preparing for the Christmas season and the year ended
with only a comparatively slight increase in the registers.
The year viewed as a whole was one of steady demand for
the young lit worker, and a number of the ' not so fit' were placed
in the lighter kinds of work—the Festival of Britain employing
an appreciable number of gatekeepers, porters and similar jobs
—for a few months."
Open Air Recreational Amenities.
I have again inserted in the schedule at the end of the report
a list of parks and open spaces. I have done this because this
excellent provision by the Local Authority is an important factor
in the promotion of health of body and mind of the inhabitants.