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1936] 52
In order that the degree of overcrowding can be appreciated an explanation of
the tabulated form may be fitting here :
The vertical columns of the tables show the sizes of the rooms occupied in
terms of the maximum " equivalent numbers " of persons who could be permitted
to occupy the dwellings without causing them to be overcrowded. In the cases in
which the floor areas of the rooms in dwellings were ascertained it has been possible
to determine accurately the permitted numbers of persons in respect of the dwellings.
In other cases, the reduced permitted numbers have been used.
The horizontal divisions represent the sizes of the families in terms of the
" equivalent numbers " of persons occupying the dwellings. In cases in which the
ages of children were not ascertained a child under 10 years of age was counted as
\ a person.
The tables, therefore, give a picture of the housing conditions (so far as density
is concerned) of the families enumerated in the Borough at the time the survey was
taken. The thick black diagonal line in the tables separates the overcrowded
families from those not overcrowded The families recorded on the left of the
diagonal line are all overcrowded and the worst cases of overcrowding are those
farthest from the line. The families recorded to the right of the line are not overcrowded.
Example 1.—Looking at the tables from the point of view of the size of the
dwelling occupied, it will be seen that, under each size of the dwelling (in terms of
the maximum '' equivalent number " of persons who could be permitted to occupy
it), is given the number of families of each size from 1 to 13 and over " equivalent
persons." Thus, in the Borough there are living in dwellings large enough on the
overcrowding standard to accommodate 4 persons : 1,325 families of 1 person, 40
families of 1½ persons, 8,297 families of 2 persons, 3,245 families of 2½ persons, 5,916
families of 3 persons, 1,362 families of 3½ persons and 81 families with just sufficient
accommodation.
Example 11.—Looked at from point of view of the size of the family it will be
seen by reference to the same table, that the horizontal sections represent each
size of family and show the number of families of the various sizes occupying each
size of accommodation, expressed in terms of the maximum number of persons who
could be permitted to occupy it. Thus, taking families of the size of 4 equivalent
persons, there are 22 families occupying rooms which should accommodate 1½ persons
only, 1,348 families in rooms for 2½ persons only, 66 families for 3 persons only, and
15 families occupying rooms which should accommodate 3½ persons only.
Owing to the dual standard laid down by the Act for determining the
maximum permitted number of persons, it is not possible to indicate precisely in
the statistical tables the numbers of rooms represented by each permitted number.
A close indication is given, however, in the following table which shows also the
number of overcrowded dwellings of various sizes:—