View report page

9
Social Conditions and Chief Occupations of the Population.
Deptford, although in parts inhabited by persons financially comfortably
situated, is essentially an industrial and working-class borough.
Unemployment and under employment is common and the standard of
life for many is, consequently, far below that which one would like to
see.
The following figures have been kindly supplied to me by the
Manager of the Deptford Labour Exchange:—
Number of Unemployed:—
26th Sept., 1932 Men, 4,320 Women, 473 Juveniles, 267
23rd Jan., 1933 „ 4,732 „ 924 „ 331
I am indebted to the Public Assistance Officer for the following
figures:—
(a) Total number of Deptford Residents, including wives and children,
on outdoor relief, during the week ended 31st December, 1932:—
Unemployment 5,829
(b) Amount expended on outdoor relief in Deptford during year
ended 31st December, 1932:—
£84,929 15s. 7d.
A further index of the economic position is afforded by the details
of the incomes of persons receiving milk through the Council's scheme.
In 1932 a very large increase of applications was experienced. An
Analysis of the applications made in December showed that the number
of persons granted milk was 917. Of these, 870 persons were in
receipt of a wage which, after deduction of rent, left less than 7s. 6d.
per head in the family : in the case of a further 47 persons, the same
conditions being observed, the amount per bead varied between 7s. 6d.
and 10s. 6d. During the whole year 21,671 applications for fortnightly
supplies were granted. Of this number, 20,343 applications were in
respect of families in receipt of an income, after deduction of rent, of
less than 7s. 6d. per head per week, and in the remainder, the amount
varied from 7s. 6d. to 10s. 6d.
Education facilities in respect of elementary, secondary and technical
education are well provided, while the Borough Council has made a
valuable contribution in establishing a Central and two Branch Libraries.