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mortality, too, over the same period has been approximately threequarters
of that for the country as a whole. In the face of these solid
achievements one may reasonably doubt the wisdom of substituting for
arrangements which have proved so successful a scheme which has yet
to prove its worth. The Council have at least the satisfaction of knowing
that they are passing over to other hands a highly efficient service of
whose record they have every reason to be proud.
The difficulties referred to in recent reports in securing the remedy
of sanitary defects have in no way diminished, shortage of materials and
labour still presenting insuperable obstacles. The dire need for augmenting
our national food supplies necessitating the public collection of pig
food waste has created a set of circumstances which cannot but be
viewed with misgiving by public health officers who know* from
experience the potential menace of flies. While it is still necessary to
continue this scheme no effort should be spared to minimise the real
health risks which are inherent in these arrangements.
Supervision of food supplies is assuming an increasing role in
sanitary administration. Regulations to fix standards for commodities,
particularly those which lend themselves to fraudulent substitution,
continue to increase. The necessity for these Orders cannot
diminish while ever the supply of the genuine products falls so short
of the need. Consequently food sampling during the year showed
a substantial increase. One tendency which has been noted is the
replacement of stocks of certain commodities with supplies of inferior
quality, the result of the usual sources of production being no longer
available. One cannot designate these samples as " adulterated " or
" non-genuine," but they are not of the standard to which the public
has been accustomed in more fortunate times.
Overcrowding remains our major health problem and overshadows
every other consideration. In previous reports the necessity has been
stressed for rehousing most of our homeless families outside the district.
The scope for rehousing within the boundaries of the area is very limited
and can only solve a small part of our problem. It is true that for the
time being the rate of new construction is held up by considerations
other than availability of sites, but it would appear to be desirable to
ensure that sufficient sites are at our disposal in less populated areas
against the time when the supply of labour and material makes more
rapid progress possible.
I opened this introduction with an expression of satisfaction at
being able to submit yet another favourable report. Looking ahead,
this pleasure is tempered with some degree of apprehension. We are
going through difficult times and must face yet a greater degree of
austerity before we are clear of the economic troubles which beset us.
Shalt we with the means at our disposal be able to sustain the wellbeing
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