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necessary materials to carry out alterations and
improvements to house property, it is of very
little use asking Sanitary Inspectors to spend
any more than the minimum time on such duties.
It need scarcely be pointed out that this
situation is far from satisfactory. Every
effort has been and will be made to deal with
major housing defects, but we cannot justifiably
demand materials which are of prime importance
to the war effort.
The remarks set out above also explain
the decrease in the number of notices served.
Meat and food inspection still occupies
a great deal of time, the importance of which
cannot be gainsaid.
Conclusion. Our previous policy so far as
the Public Health Department
is concerned, was continued during 1941, i.e. to
maintain essential Public Health services while
omitting anything which savoured of embroidery.
As noted earlier in this Report, it is exceedingly
difficult to guage with any degree of accuracy the
health of such an urbanised community as Southgate,
but I think it would be safe to state that our
health index is high and that it shows no present
sign of falling. 1940 presented us with the
problem of air raid shelters in extensive use; the
problem of 1941 is more that of women in industry.
For the first time in its recorded history, the
women of Southgate are being absorbed into
essential industries in one shape or another.
This absorption brings with it a variety of
problems, all of which demand adequate solution.
The solution to one aspect of the problem - the
provision of day nurseries - is already being
found, but it is too soon yet to say what final
effects this radical alteration in the life and
organisation of our community will have upon its
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