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POPULATION.
The estimated figure for the population of Merton and
Morden for mid-year 1948 is 75,220. Last year's figure of
75,290 was the highest ever recorded for the district and it is
something of a disappointment to find that Registrar General
has estimate a decrease of 70. Whilst present day methods of
estimation are probably much more accurate than ever before,
it should be remembered that these figures are estimates and
that there are features which make them difficult to reconcile
with local facts. It will be interesting to examine these
figures of the intermediate inter-census years when the next
census comes to be taken. It is an interesting speculation whether
our population has reached, or nearly reached, its peak. This
year, after the addition of last year's natural increase of 734,
the highest ever recorded for the district, our population is
estimated at a lower figure than for last year. This would
suggest that last year our population was at its zenith.
BIRTHS.
There were 1,087 registered live births in 1948, of which
1,045 were legitimate and 42 illegitimate. As has been pointed
out, this is a very considerable drop from the 1,345 live births
registered last year and the birth rate has consequently dropped
from 17.86 to 14.45 per thousand.
The illegitimate rate at 38.6 per thousand live births
compares with 28-3 for the previous year.