View report page

19061
16
Highbury.— 1,213 persons resided in overcrowded 1-room tenements.
2,063 „ „ „ 2-room „
1,137 „ „ „ „ 3-room „
936 „ „ „ 4-room ,,
Total - 5,349 „ „ „ 1 to 4-room „
"In Table 6, I have tabulated the actual number of overcrowded
tenements, distinguishing the number of rooms as well as the number of
persons living in them. This Table, which exhibits the extraordinary
variations that occur in the several areas with respect to the character of the
tenements, is worthy of careful study, for in some it is seen that one room
tenements are the most numorous, in others that two-room tenements are
most numerous, and so on.
"Indeed, it is a good index also of the circumstances of the inhabitants, for
the poorer they are the fewer rooms they occupy.
"I have now laid before you the fullest particulars that it is possible to
obtain respecting the borough unless, indeed, such as could only be ascertained
by a house to house investigation, and, in a great borough like Islington, at a
considerable expense and by the employment of a special staff of Inspectors.
I think, however, that with the information which is now in your hands you
will be enabled to come down on the overcrowded spots of the borough.
"It, however, rather exaggerates the prevailing conditions owing to the
Registrar-General's definition of "overcrowding;" but bearing this in mind
you will be able to distinguish between it and legal overcrowding— that is,
from overcrowding to abate which you would obtain an Abatement Order in a
Court of Summary Jurisdiction. I do not, however, suggest that you should
take no action on this account. Far from it, because I think, firstly, it would
be extremely unwise to allow overcrowding to go on until its abatement could
only be obtained by legal force ; and, secondly, that the great health interests
of the public are best served by the prevention of evils, rather than by their
abatement when they have arisen. It is folly to wait to close the stable door
until the steed has beenjstolen."