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16
The Minister required that the overcrowding survey should be completed not later than the
1st April, 1936, and in accordance with this direction the Health Department completed its survey
on the 14th March, 1936. The results of the overcrowding survey were duly submitted to the Housing
Acts 1930-35, Committee on the 26th March, 1936. The Committee considered the report of the
Medical Officer of Health on the overcrowding inspection and reported to the Council the probable
number of new houses required in order to abate overcrowding in the Borough. This report was
forwarded to the Minister on April 29th, 1936, being ahead of the date prescribed by the Minister,
namely, 1st June, 1936.
The question of the methods by which the additional houses required may be provided is a matt er
for consideration by the Housing and Town Planning Committee and the Minister requires to have
their proposals not later than the 1st August, 1936.
In the meantime the Health Department is proceeding with the necessary measurement of the
remaining unmeasured working class dwellings in order that within six months after the appointed
day, every owner of a dwelling house will have information in the rent book as to the number of persons
permitted to occupy the house. This information will be of a permanent character and extremely
valuable for the maintenance of the better conditions under which it is desired the people should
have the opportunity of living.
Arising out of the inspections which have taken place over a number of years and the more
recent inspections, the question of the verminous condition of houses either belonging to the local
authority or in private ownership, has arisen. It is satisfactory to record that the Council have
instituted measures which will tend to secure the elimination of the bug.
It must not be understood by this that the Council expect to obtain the complete destruction
of the bug in all cases. Indeed in old property which has been bug infested for some time, especially
where there are holes in the plaster work due to nails or the like, or where the skirting board has shrunk
away from the wall, recesses are provided in which bugs may breed and from which it is difficult to
eradicate them. It would appear essential, therefore, in these cases that not only should the bug
be assailed by chemical agents, but that the breeding places should also be obliterated. This may not
be possible of attainment in 100 per cent. of cases, but it is work to which the Department, with the
authority of the Council, have set their hand and it is hoped that considerable improvement will
be effected.
In the case of new and properly built houses, however, if tenants enter them clean or if on the
other hand they are thoroughly disinfested, there is no good reason why they should become reinfested.
After all, an occupier has a responsibility to keep his house clean and free from vermin
if the house is suitably constructed.
The proper responsibility between landlord and tenant is one which the Health Department
has always before it as it is required to be considered not only in connection with verminous conditions,
but also in connection with many other nuisances and uncleanliness generally.
This work for the better care of property by landlord and tenant as well as for the greater
cleanliness of occupiers and their families, has been carried out now for many years by the Health
Department, and it may be said, with conspicuous success in respect of the cleanliness of school
children. It is hoped, as a result of the greater facilities provided by the Council and the wider outlook
and the more ready co-operation of the public in relation to this work, that the Department will be
enabled to achieve in the future even better results than they have achieved in the past.
Social Conditions.—The District is largely of a residential character, and the population, in
addition to persons daily engaged elsewhere in the Metropolis, is composed of persons locally engaged
in industry and trade. Apart from the numerous and important shopping centres in the District,
there are several local industrial undertakings such as railways, and large electrical, motor engineering,
and coachbuilding works, biscuit manufacturers, bedstead and mattress manufacturers, printing, etc.
I am indebted to the Manager of the Willesden Employment Exchange for the following
information regarding unemployment.
Unemployed.—
Men. Women. Total.
January, 1935 4,783 745 5,528
January, 1936 4,026 805 4,831
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
123 bodies were deposited at the Mortuary during the year ending 31st December, 1935, as
follows:—8 Accommodations, 60 Post-Mortems, 13 Post-Mortems and Inquests, and 42 Inquests only.
The existing arrangements continue to give satisfaction to the Medical Practitioners attending
the Mortuary to carry out Post-Mortem examinations. In order to bring the Mortuary up to modern
standards, the Council are considering the provision of a Mortuary Cabinet Refrigerator.