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48
OVERCROWDING.
At the time of the 1911 Census, overcrowding was
rampant in Bethnal Green, there being then 6,445 tenements
with more than two occupants per room, and
41,152 persons were living under these conditions. In
other words, 32 per cent. of the population was living
under such conditions of overcrowding as to be injurious
to health and morals. To what extent has the recent
decrease in population ameliorated overcrowding? This
is a difficult question to answer, but the position appears
to be as follows: The spacing out mentioned above
has principally affected those families who were not
"overcrowded" before the war, for instance, those who
occupied a whole house. The number of families
occupying two or three roomed tenements or flats under
overcrowded conditions is still very large. Such families
may have the breadwinner unemployed or disabled with
a pension. Overcrowding is still an urgent problem in
Bethnal Green, and affecting as it does so often the
families of men who have served in the war and made
great sacrifices, it is to be deplored the more. The
Borough Council and its staff find themselves very helpless
in attempting to abate these evil conditions. It is
realised that the solution only lies in the provision of
new houses, and this matter is outside our jurisdiction
for all practical purposes.
In twelve instances during the year overcrowding
was so bad as to be reported to the Public Health
Committee as to action. In six cases an informal notice
to abate the nuisance was served, and in three cases a
statutory notice was served. In all twelve instances the
condition was eventually abated.