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of the number of dwellings to be surveyed was 40,000, but this
proved lower than was expected and the actual number was 48,184.
The clerical assistants began work on the 2nd October, entering
particulars of dwellings on Form A from the rate books to prepare
for the 40 enumerators who, with five supervisors, began the
inquiry at the houses on the 1st November. The enumeration was
practically completed in two and a half weeks, after which one
enumerator was retained to investigate queries and to follow up cases
where information was not obtained owing to families being away
or at work at the time of the enumerators' previous visits.
The first part of the survey divided the families into three
categories :—
(a) Those definitely overcrowded.
(b) Those definitely not overcrowded.
(c) Those not overcrowded in so far as the number in the
family and the number of rooms were concerned, but
who might be overcrowded if the floor area of the rooms
were less than is required by Table 2 of the 1st Schedule
of the Act.
To obtain definite information regarding families in category (c),
the measurement of the area of each room in accordance with
instructions contained in the Provisional Regulations dated the
15th October, 1935, made by the Minister of Health under the
Housing Acts, 1925 to 1935, was undertaken by the survey
assistants (four of whom began work on the 8th November) and
recorded on Form B. The number was increased to 13 by the
3rd December, and the measurement of 8,007 houses was completed
by the 9th January, and entered on Form B.
It will be realised that the bald statement of the work carried
out hides a multitude of details which required careful attention at
the time as well as much forethought to avoid pitfalls and difficulties.
It says much for the administration and for the " field work " that
no formal notices were required to be served on families who might
have refused to tender the information informally requested. Three
complaints only were received, but on investigation the cause was
found to be the cantankerous nature of the individual well
recognisable as anxious to see offence where none is intended.
The readiness with which information of age and sex and rooms
occupied, was tendered by the people, is a tribute to their common
sense in aiding the temporary staff to carry out their arduous and
monotonous inquiry.