View report page

TO THE
MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS
OF THE
BOROUGH OF SOUTHGATE
Madam Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present the Annual Report for 1957.
The year under review was again relatively uneventful. Apart
from the two-yearly epidemic of measles, which duly arrived in
1957, the year was free from epidemics or even what might be
termed more than the most limited outbreaks of infectious disease.
This matter will receive more detailed attention in the section of
the report dealing with the prevalence and control of infectious
diseases.
The vital statistics for 1957 were also satisfactory, with the
usual proviso that the figures for one year in respect of a population
of less than one hundred thousand cannot be regarded as in any
way conclusive. The birth rate rose from 11.2 to 12.1. The death
rate was 10.5, as against 9.9 for 1956. There were again no deaths
from puerperal causes. The infantile mortality rate, i.e., the number
of infants who died during the first year of life for every thousand
live births, rose from 13.8 to 20.1. This is a striking example of
the fact that, quite literally, two or three additional infant deaths
will raise the infantile mortality rate substantially, and tend to
create a quite erroneous impression. These matters will be discussed
more fully in the section of the report dealing with the statistics
and social conditions of the area.
Work under the Housing Acts continued during the year, and
will be fully dealt with in the section of the report covering this
important field. It may suffice here to say that work under these
Acts, commonly but not always correctly known as slum clearance,
has been temporarily halted, as it did not seem either politic or even
useful to continue the condemnation of unfit houses until the
obvious difficulties in the way of providing alternative accommodation
could be overcome. It is hoped that this obstacle will shortly
be removed and that we will be able to proceed with maximum
speed towards the completion of our programme.
The position in regard to the setting up of Smoke Control
areas in Southgate was fully explored. After very careful deliberation,
it was decided that a further report should be made to the
3