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15
Overcrowding.—The Minister of Health fixed 1st July, 1937, as the appointed day after
which newly-created overcrowding became an offence, and the same day was fixed as the terminal
date by which a statement showing the permitted number of persons applicable to each house was to
be inserted by the landlord in the rent books.
The information obtained by the housing survey forms 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 needs to be revised from time to time and constant inspection is required to enforce
the overcrowding standard.
By 31st December, 1938, 292 overcrowded families were rehoused by the Council.
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 1938, 4,875 963 5,838
January, 1939 5,148 1,111 6,259
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
123 bodies were deposited at the Mortuary during the year ending 31st December, 1938, as
follows:—2 Accommodations, 72 Post-Mortems, 8 Post-Mortems and Inquests, and 41 Inquests only.
AMBULANCE SERVICE.
The demands on the Ambulance Service increase year by year.
During the vear 9,569 calls were made for the Council's ambulances as compared with 8,535 in
1937, 7,685 in 1936, 6,856 in 1935, 5,617 in 1934, 5,633 in 1933, 5,497 in 1932 and 5,171 in 1931.
Altogether, 177,338 miles were run in 1938 as compared with 164,761 in 1937, 153,459 in 1936,
143,557 in 1935, 132,548 in 1934, 132,168 in 1933, 132,208 in 1932, and 131,564 in 1931.
Approximately 250 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 24th year of working of the Ambulance Service appears on
page 80.
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL.
The 47th 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.