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but regulations are badly needed in regard to the repair of banks,
flooding, etc. This stream for the greater part is outside the
Borough, but any damage caused by accident or neglect higher up
is felt almost entirely within our boundaries.
Social Conditions and Occupations.
The population is roughly about 1000th of the total population
of England and Wales. The distribution of population is
about the same as for the country generally as to Male and Female,
Rich and Poor and numbeis of Children.
There is no staple industry. A large number of women are
employed in Laundries, Soda Water Works, Beer Bottling, &c.
In many cases these women are the keepers of the house as the
men are only casually employed, on the river, &c.
There are fewer empty houses in the Borough than last year.
Those of the better class are old-fashioned in design and not now
popular. There is also less demand for big houses as the families
of the well-to-do of all classes tend to be smaller. Amongst
working class property there are not a great number of empty
houses. Trading is largely restricted to the centre of the town
since the advent of trams and motor omnibusses. A large flying
machine manufactory has recently been started.
Sewerage and Drainage—Its sufficiency in all parts of the
District—Condition of sewers and house drains— Method or
methods of disposal of sewage—Localities where improvements
are needed.
The sewerage and drainage of the town is good on the whole.
Some parts of the district are flat and trouble occasionally arises
during heavy rain storms. This difficulty is gradually being got
over by laying separate surface water drains, and it is hoped that
in a year or two a double system may be in force throughout the
Borough. Manholes have been made over all sewers so that they
can be readily cleaned out. This work has now been completed
in all the main thoroughfares.