View report page

1899] 18
The New Census.—In the early part of next year a new
census will be taken, but it is not anticipated that the rate of
increase will differ very materially in Islington from that which was
ascertained in 1895. It is to be hoped when the enumeration is
made, that the work will devolve on trusty enumerators, who will
not perform it hurriedly, or in any way scamp it. In the past this
has too often been the case throughout the country, where instances
have been known of the enumerators, duly appointed for the
purpose, getting their work done by others, to whom they paid a
small fee for their trouble, and who, therefore, were more or less
careless in its execution.
Many complaints have been made that the enumerators have
been poorly paid, and that they, therefore, did not give that great
care and attention to their work which its great importance
deserved. The matter rests, to a large extent, in the hands of the
Registrar-General, for undoubtedly, if the persons who are selected,
provided that they are in every way suitable, be paid well for their
labours, results more exact than hitherto will be obtained.
There was never a period in the history of the Metropolis when
it was so necessary as now to ascertain how the people are housed,
or when it was so necessary to have accurate returns as to the
numbers of occupiers dwelling in tenements. Figures that are
beyond dispute are much required, so that the Sanitary Authorities
of London may be placed in possession of particulars of every
house let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one
family. It is only when they receive them that they will be able to
deal with much of the overcrowding that undoubtedly prevails,
more or less, in every district, and which affects not only the health
of the occupiers directly, but of the public indirectly.
In my last annual report I discussed briefly the conditions as
to overcrowding in Islington, and, therefore, I do not propose to
pursue the subject now, beyond noting that at the present time it
is almost impossible for the working classes to procure rooms.
Indeed, the difficulties which those who have the misfortune to
have large families have to overcome in obtaining apartments are