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2
SECTION A
STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
1. General Statistics.
Area in Acres 400
Total Population (including Service personnel) 35,990
Number of inhabited houses (approx) 11,860
Rateable Value - General Rate (l.4.62) £1,180,417
Sum represented by Penny Rate (year 1962/63) £ 4,780
Total number of hereditament 14,809
Domestic dwellings 80% of total hereditaments
Commerical dwellings 18% of total hereditaments
Number of premises classified as industrial, entertainment,
public utility, educational and miscellaneous 462
2. Social Conditions.
Kingston-upon-Thames is a Royal and Ancient Borough situated
upon the south bank of the River Thames, within the County of Surrey
and the Greater London area.
Although it is renowned as a prosperous market town and for
its extensive shopping centre, which provides the main economic
function, there is also important industrial activity in Aircraft
and Engineering. Kingston is not only a centre for education and
recreation, but is a "commuting" area for business people travelling
daily to and from London.
The social conditions are influenced by the trend of the
high level of employment which exists in the town and the Manager of
the local Employment Exchange, Miss M. Bond, has kindly provided the
following information regarding employment in Kingston and Districts:-
"At the end of 1961 I reported that unemployment during the
year had been slightly higher on average than in 1960 This trend
unfortunately continued throughout 1962. In December 1961 there were
400 men and 91 women unemployed but by the end of 1962 these totals
had risen to 705 and 129, the total of 834 representing 1% of the
working population in the Employment Exchange area. When compared
with the national percentage of 2.5 the local percentage was small but
nevertheless gave cause for some concern.
The diversity of industry in the Employment Exchange area is
such that if one section is experiencing difficulties other sections
are prosperous and a reasonable balance is usually maintained, During
1962, however, there appeared to be a general air of caution and engagements
of labour through the Exchange were 342 fewer than in the
previous year. With rising unemployment figures it is a natural
corollary that demands for labour should fall and this is evident in