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The average number of persons per inhabited house appears to have gone down
from 3.28 in 1963 to 3 02 in 1964 which suggests that the number of overcrowded
houses, whether private dwellings or houses in multiple occupation has at the
very least, not increased during the year
The residents of the Borough are of mixed categories including professional
and clerical people of all grades artisans factory workers etc., and the types
of dwellings vary from flatted houses and cottages to large detached residences
in their own surrounding grounds The amount of slum property is not considerable
and progress continues to be made with the demolition of houses which are
no longer fit for human habitation Information on the rehousing of the tenants
in council houses and details concerning assessment of slum dwellings demoli
tion and the building of new houses are supplied later in this Report
The unemployment figures for adult persons i.e. aged 18 and over, in the
Borough at the end of 1964 shows a marked decrease compared with the previous
year. At the end of 1964 there were 179 unemployed of which 158 were men and
21 women at the end of 1963 the total unemployed numbered 258 and the previous
year 329
With regard to vacancies on 2nd December 1964 the number of vacancies
outstanding was 406, (232 for men and 174 for women) and although the figure
at December, 1963 was 468 taken as a whole throughout the year the demand was
practically double the supply particularly with skilled work

The local employment position followed the national trend during the year,
and, whilst it was not difficult to find suitable vacancies at the beginning
of the year the position became progressively easier as the year continued.
Apprenticeships were not plentiful but extensive canvassing produced sufficient
progressive vacancies for those boys who were suitably qualified to undertake
them Some delay was experienced by boys who wanted semi skilled and unskilled
work, but girls were in the fortunate position of being able to choose from
plentiful vacancies in offices shops and factories There was an unexpectedly
low demand for hairdressing apprenticeships and a high number of these vacancies
were outstanding at the end of the year
Many employers were unable to understand that there were insufficient
young people available to meet all demands They read newspaper reports of
severe unemployment in northern areas and assumed that these conditions applied
equally in the London area. The officers explained the situation several times
a day, emphasising the wide choice of vacancies for most occupations. Many
vacancies notified for the summer term school leavers could not be filled and
although every effort was made to submit young people who called for a change
of employment there were still insufficient boys and girls available. This
is reflected in the high number of vacancies outstanding on the 31st December."
The above report on juvenile employment was kindly given by the Youth En=
ployment Officer
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