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2. Food - Full credit must be accorded to the excellent
rationing system in force which still ensures an even
distribution of essential foodstuffs to the whole of the
population. But it must be noted that there is now
little, if any, margin of safety as regards nutrition to
meet emergencies of illness, strain or epidemics. Fats
are definitely at a very low level. Monotony is a
feature of readily available diets. There is considerable
difficulty for the housewife to provide for the
heavy manual worker, the fast-growing school child and
herself in carrying out her increasingly heavy duties
for her family,
3. Care of the Aged - From the number of appeals for
help on behalf of aged sick or infirm persons, it is
evident that provision for them is another acute problem
demanding solution. Alongside the heavy demand on
housing, hospitals and food supplies for the more active
members of the community must come the provision for the
aged of suitable housing accommodation with communal
amenities and increased nursing and welfare facilities.
The Number of Births.
In 1945 the number of births registered was 615; a
rise from 539 in 1941 but not so high as 660 in 1943. It
should be noted that the figure of illegitimate live births
from 1941 onwards was 38, 39, 49, 53 and 64 in 1945 - a
steady rise.
It is to be expected that the number of registered
births will remain high or increase in 1946. It may be
expected that the number of illegitimate births may fall in
a year or two.
Nursery Occupied Places.
It is obvious that the peak of occupied nursery places
had not been reached at the beginning of 1945.
The total attendances recorded were 1941 - 2,715;
1942 - 24,018; 1943 - 51,453; 1944 - 56,037; 1945
56,819. This is the situation notwithstanding the closure
of St. Peter's War-time Nursery in June, 1945, and the redistribution
of the children and staff attending. It is
evident that all the day nursery accommodation provided at
the and of the year is required to meet the demand for
places.
The general provision of health services has boon
maintained throughout the year.
Apart from a fairly widespread occurrence of measles
commented upon in Section F of the report, no epidemic of
notifiable infectious disease occurred in the period under
review.
1945 has been a year of transition in which the first
steps of change from war-time to peace-time conditions were
taken.
The difficulties experienced in winding-up emergency
arrangements and in staffing are temporary.