Normanton being chiefly a mining town quickly feels the effects of any fluctuations in the mining industry, consequently it has passed through many vicissitudes, nevertheless, for the last forty years, it has steadily grown both in population and rateable value.

But at the present time it is passing through a period of depression hitherto unknown in its history. For the last two years unemployment has been rife, and wages, in many cases, have been below the subsistence level. This has lowered the standard of living of the workers and had a corresponding effect on the tradespeople of the town.  

The following figures, taken from the unemployment registers of the Normanton Labour Exchange on November 26th. 1928, enables us to understand to some extent, the amount of distress that exists in the town and surrounding districts. The number of men totally unemployed on the above date was 276, the number of boys was 12. The number of women was 21, girls, 15. The number of men partially employed (given as short time workers) was 1,590, boys, 110, women, 37 and girls, 5.  

These figures however are not applicable to Normanton exclusively but they include Altofts, Whitwood, Loscoe, Warmfield, Sharlston, New Sharlston, Hopetown and Newland. This would appear to make a material reduction in the above figures as far as Normanton is concerned. But the reduction becomes more apparent than real when we remember that a large number of the men and boys employed in those districts reside in Normanton. 

None of the occupations in the Normanton area has any particular influence on the public health and the inhabitants on the whole, appear to enjoy fairly good health. The Medical Officer's annual report issued in Dec.1927 shows an annual birth rate of 23 - 6 per 1,000 of the population, whilst the birth rate for England and Wales is 17 - 8 per thousand of the population. The report states that there has been a gradual fall in the birth rate for the last decade, and this has been noticeable throughout the country generally. The number of deaths gave an annual death rate per 1,000 of the population of 11 - 05. The death rate for England and Wales during the same period was 11 - 6, so that the death rate for the district is slightly lower than that for the country as a whole.  

The report also shows that tuberculosis is prevalent in the district. The number of cases on the register at the end of the year was 109. The Medical Officer states that the high return for this disease in the area is probably due to the over- crowding prevailing in the district. The report also states that professional nursing in the home is provided for by two district nurses who are under the Normanton Hospital Committee and the Whitwood and Hopetown Nursing Association. But no provision is made for the nursing of infectious diseases in the home.
 
The report also points out that with the exception of ambulances in connection with the surrounding collieries and isolation hospital, there are no ambulances facilities for the district, and this is a much felt want, and it goes on to say that a district of the size of Normanton should have, and ought to be able to maintain, a satisfactory ambulance.   The sanitation of the town is good, and the sewage, after being treated at the sewerage works, enters Waindyke Beck almost like clean water The town's water is supplied from the Wakefield Waterworks, whose reservoirs are situated on the high Rishworth Moors. The water is first class in quality and the supply is always plentiful.  

Having now concluded my notes on Normanton I shall, in the next issue commence a brief historical survey of the old time village of Altofts where I have found much that is interesting. After which, I shall, with the editor's permission, submit a few notes on Newland and the ancient village of Warmfield and Snydale, without which a history of our town and district would be incomplete.
 
I may at this stage also add for the benefit of those who are interested that it is my intention when my task is finished to issue the whole in a neatly bound volume and if I can reasonably hope to obtain sufficient subscribers to warrant the publication, I shall be extremely glad to publish the book.