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64 HOUSING.
At the Census of 1901 the average number of persons per room in each class of tenement
in the whole Borough was—
One room, 1.8 Two rooms, 1.7 Three rooms, 1.3 Four rooms, 1.1
Annual Cleansing.— At the beginning of April of last year 901 houses were on the
Register, all of which were inspected with a view to the cleansing requisite. This work
involved 3,225 visits, and the service of 1,717 notices of various descriptions, viz., 901
" intimation letters," 49.1 " by.law notices," and 322 " reminders."
Overcrowding.— Of the 3,590 tenements on the Register, 1,185 were "overcrowded"
according to the theoretical standard of the Registrar.General, that is, their inhabitants
averaged more than two persons (irrespective of age) per room. The total number of each
class of tenement and the number " overcrowded " were—
Tenements of—
Total.
" Overcrowded."
Average number
of
persons per room.
One room
Two rooms
Three „
Four „
Five „
1,423
1,756
345
60
6
417
677
88
3
.
2.1
2.0
1.7
1.4
1.1

The reductions, although small, afford some reason for thinking that the registration
is not without good result.
The cases of real overcrowding discovered during the year numbered 298, viz., 59 on
registration, 233 at the annual cleansing, and 6 on other inspections. The 298 tenements
contained 1,244 persons, occupying 339 rooms, an average of 3.6 persons per room. In 206 of
the tenements, occupied by 787 persons, the excess of inhabitants amounted to 259. Further
particulars are given in the appended summary :—
Registration.
Annual Cleansing.
Other Visits.
Tenements overcrowded
Rooms
Occupants, total
Under 10
Ten and upwards
Overcrowding abated—
By re.arrangement
By voluntary removal
Under notice
Cases held over
59
98
223
101
122
38
9
.
233
412
983
441
542
151
19
4
59
6
8
38
10
28
.
.
6
Of the cases reported last year, 12 were so slight that action was not thought necessary;
in 189 the overcrowding was obviated by a re.arrangement of the sleeping accommodation,
in 28 the families voluntarily sought other homes, and 10 did so after service of notice.
Fifty.nine families remained under observation at the close of the year.
Want of accommodation could hardly be pleaded as a sufficient excuse for overcrowding,
as there were many empty tenements in the streets where registration was in force. At
the close of last year a special enquiry was made as to the amount of accommodation