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my duties and at all times have been as competent and loyal
servants of the Council and the Public Health Department as one
could wish.
Mr. Long, whose activities in connection with housing and
civil defence are too well-known to require setting out in detail,
retired in January, 1951, but I feel sure that his successor, Mr.
Wilson, Mr. Alexander, Chief Sanitary Inspector, Mr. Potter,
Administrative Assistant, and Mr. Spearing, Senior Housing Clerk,
who is in charge of the Housing Act clerical work and compiled the
particulars relating to the housing activities from past records, will
be found by whoever follows me in my appointment to be as competent
and helpful as any medical officer of health could desire.
Indeed, in my opinion, the Council are very fortunate in having
recently appointed Mr. Potter and Mr. Spearing, both of whom
before coming to Hackney had a wide and thorough training in all
branches of public health administration. I have found the experience
obtained by these officers prior to coming to Hackney
of great assistance. Mr. Haynes, who played such an outstanding
part in the building-up of the Maternity and Child Welfare Services,
is mentioned in the body of the Report.
The War Damage Commission has been most helpful and the
difficulty experienced in enforcing repair of dwellings would have
been much greater but for the co-operation the Public Health
Department has received from the Commission in all cases where
war damage claims have been under consideration.
During my service with the Council it has been my good
fortune to have many able colleagues, some of whom are referred to
in the various sections of this Report, but I would particularly
mention Dr. H. Tylford Howell who, prior to his retirement in 1947,
had worked in Hackney for over 30 years as Tuberculosis Officer;
Dr. A. M. Barlow, Deputy Medical Officer of Health from 1923
to 1948, whose retirement from this post consequent upon his
removal to Cornwall was much regretted; and Dr. D. Bielenky,
who gave such magnificent service to the Borough as Deputy Medical
Officer for Civil Defence during the war and succeeded Dr. Barlow
as Deputy Medical Officer of Health. The assistance which I have
received from these officers has been invaluable.
I would like, in this my last Annual Report, to express my
appreciation of the great assistance always given by Sir Allen
Daley and his Department in every difficulty in which their help
has been requested. In all matters concerning the Borough there
has been the most cordial and immediate assistance from the
London County Council, which arises from the fact that the attitude
of Sir Allen Daley is reflected throughout his administration.
The fact that the change-over of the personal health services to the
Division was effected with so little friction and in a spirit of