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44
Some of the causes may, however, be generally indicated.
The conversion of dwelling houses and dwelling
rooms into workshops has played some part, but that this
has not been of great effect in reducing population is
shown by the fact that between the years 1901 and 1911
the population of the Borough decreased only from
129,680 to 128,183, although the process of workshop
transformation was in being.
The large and recent decrease of population is due
to:—
(a) Deaths of men and women in the Services.
(b) Diminished birth-rate.
(c) Emigration from the district.
Bethnal Green, being a densely populated district
with a high birth-rate, has always and of necessity sent
out large numbers of men and women into the more
open parts of Great Britain and the Empire. The
population in the past has remained fairly stationary, the
excess of births over deaths being balanced by emigration.
During the war, in addition to the deaths of men
and women in the Services, the birth-rate fell markedly.
A more important factor, however, was the spacing out
of the population, having the same effect as a large
emigration of population.
Bethnal Green in the past, in addition to its staple
industries, has included in its population a large number
of families on the verge of destitution, subsisting on
casual labour or sweated trades. For reasons which I
need not dilate on, the number of such families has
enormously diminished during the war. A new standard
of decent living has been created—and may we never
look back in this change!