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115
Report of the Medical Officer of Health on Overcrowding.
The population of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea, as
enumerated at the Census of 1921, was 167,739, as compared with
167,743 in 1911 and 168,907 in 1901. From these figures it would
appear that there has been a slight decline. It must be borne in
mind, however, that while this is no doubt true as regards the
Census for 1911, the decline then recorded for Battersea amounting
to 5 per cent., the lowest for the inner and middle group of Metropolitan
Boroughs, was due to the movement to the "outer ring,"
which during the inter-censal period was such a marked feature
of the County of London returns. At the census of 1921 the
enumeration which was planned to have been taken on the 24th
April was, because of the industrial unrest prevailing, postponed
until the 19th June following. Owing to the remarkably fine
weather prevailing during the summer of that year, the holiday
movement started earlier than usual, and this was reflected in the
population statistics for the country generally. It was necessary,
therefore, as explained in the preliminary report of the RegistrarGeneral,
to make an adjustment of the enumerated figures for different
areas. So far as London is concerned, the adjustment was
small, the estimate of the resident population being only 9 per
1,000 in excess of the census figure in each of the Metropolitan
Boroughs. The revised figure, as estimated by the RegistrarGeneral
for Battersea, was 169,200, showing a slight excess over the
figures for the previous census returns.
It is evident, therefore, that the population of Battersea for
the past two decades has remained stationary, and that, having
regard to the fact that within the Borough boundaries there remains
no building land available, there is, therefore, no further opportunity
for expansion. This is not wholly a matter for regret, the density
of population as measured by the number of persons per acre, i.e.,
78, being, in my opinion, already greater perhaps than is desirable,
and when contrasted with other Metropolitan Boroughs, especially
its next door neighbour, Wandsworth, with its density of 17 persons
per acre, the comparison is interesting and instructive.
In considering the housing question in relation to housing and
overcrowding it will be of interest to give a few of the principal
features of the census returns for the County of London and for
Battersea.
In view of its vital importance at the present time, this side
of the census inquiry was very carefully organised in advance, and
the result is that particulars are available giving number and type
of buildings, the number of structurally separate dwellings, of rooms
in dwellings, of private families occupying them, and of persons
in families. The term "structurally separate dwelling" is defined
as any room or set of rooms having separate access either to a street
or to a common landing or staircase.