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tributing the various duties of the Inspectors, and all I can say
at present is, that so far, the changes we have made have been
very satisfactory.
STREET MARKETS,
Street markets during the past few years have engaged our
attention, but as the subject has been so fully dealt with in the
body of the report for 1925, I do not propose to say anything
further, but will refer the reader to the sub-section on street
markets.
HOUSING.
In 1901 the population of Bermondsey was 130,760, and in
1911 it was 125,903, and according to the last Census of 1921
119,452. Since the Census of 1901 the population has been
steadily decreasing, as the above figures show. It is true that
the estimate of the Registrar General makes the population, at
the present time 123,000, but it is difficult to say whether this
is the correct number or not. The last Census was taken in
July, 1921, which is the month when the holiday exodus from
London begins, and I have more than a suspicion that the low
figure for this Census in Bermondsey was largely due to the
absence of persons on holiday. There is something radically
wrong with the estimates of the population, not based on actual
enumeration. For instance, in 1921, I estimated the population
on the previous figures by a special method usually adopted by
the Registrar General, and the result of the Census showed that
I was only 500 out, while the Registrar General, who estimated
for the same year on the food permits was 24,000 out, as he
made the total population for that year 144,000. I have reason
to think, however, that the last Census figure is an underestimate,
and that the Registrar General's figure of 123,000 is
nearer the actual number. In any case the decrease in the
population has not been accompanied by a decrease in the overcrowding.
Since the war we have been unable to enforce the
sections of the Public Health Act dealing with overcrowding,
simply because there was no alternative accommodation, and
complaints from tenants wanting houses, as well as reports made