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16
Overcrowding.—The first steps for dealing with overcrowding are approaching completion.
The Minister of Health has fixed 1st July, 1937, as the appointed day after which overcrowding
becomes an offence, and the same day is fixed as the terminal date by which a statement showing the
permitted number of persons suitable to each house is to be inserted by the landlord in the rent book.
In order that information as to the permitted number for every house should be available to the
landlord before the appointed day an additional 27 officials have been temporarily employed. By the
31st May, 1937, some 42,000 houses will have been measured and by the appointed day a record of the
accommodation available in some 47,000 houses will have been obtained.
The information thus obtained will form the basis of a valuable record of the amount of housing
accommodation existing in the Borough. Owing to the frequent changes in the manner in which
many working-class houses are let out to families, the permitted number in relation to these dwelling
houses will need to be revised from time to time, and constant inspection will be required to enforce
the Overcrowding Standard.
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.

PUBLIC MORTUARY.
97 bodies were deposited at the Mortuary during the year ending 31st December, 1936, as
follows :—4 Accommodations, 53 Post-Mortems, 5 Post-Mortems and Inquests, and 35 Inquests only.
During the year a six-compartment refrigerator was installed.
AMBULANCE SERVICE.
The demands on the Ambulance Service continue.
During the year 7,685 calls were made for the Council's ambulances as compared with 6,856
in 1935, 5,617 in 1934, 5,633 in 1933, 5,497 in 1932 and 5,171 in 1931.
Altogether, 153,459 miles were run in 1936 as compared with 143,557 in 1935, 132,548 in 1934,
132,168 in 1933, 132,208 in 1932 and 131,564 in 1931.
Approximately 300 defective children are on the lists for daily conveyance by the Council's
school ambulances to and from the special schools.
The detailed report of the 22nd year of working of the Ambulance Service appears as
Appendix C.
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL.
The 45th Annual Report on the Municipal Hospital, written by Dr. Troup, appears later in this
Report.
Your obedient Servant,
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.