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67
HOUSING.
1908, and 1,556 in 1901. The increase in both sets of figures was the same, viz., 26 per cent.
In spite of that increase, the actual overcrowding (by-law standards) decreased. In 1901
97 tenements (14*6 of the total) were overcrowded, and in 1908 29 tenements (3*4 per cent.)
showing a reduction of 77 per cent, below the proportion for 1901. Overcrowding is less
prevalent in the other classes of tenements, as is evident from the following figures. In 1901
204 (10*7 per cent.) tenements of all sizes were overcrowded, such tenements being occupied
by 1,174 persons (including 441 children under 10). In 1908 45 tenements (2'6 per cent.)
were overcrowded, the occupants numbering 232 (with 99 children under 10). The average
numbers of inhabitants per overcrowded tenement was 5*7 in 1901, and 5*1 in 1908.
During 1908 the morbidity rates in the "Area" (Table 43) from diphtheria (0*71) and
puerperal fever (zero) were below those in the " Rest of the Borough "—viz., 0"96 and 0"03—
while, in comparison with the 1907 rates, lower rates were recorded last year from diphtheria
and enteric fever. On the other hand, the rates from scarlet fever (14T7) and erysipelas
(2'55) were much higher than those for 1907, and quite out of proportion to those of the
" Rest of the Borough." There was a substantial fall in the death-rate from 27-61 in 1907 to
23*08 last year—a drop of 17 per cent.—the decline in rates for the "Rest of the Borough'
(from 12*77 to 11*78) being only 7 per cent. The decrease in mortality appears to have been
common to all ages of life, the infantile mortality having fallen from 181 to 173, that at ages
under 10 from 44*61 to 32*11, and that at higher ages from 20*49 to 18*88. The percentage
decreases in the rates were 5, 28, and 8, while the corresponding figures for the " Rest of the
Borough" were 4, 10, and 7—showing greater reductions in each case in the "Area." The
percentage of deaths in institutions to all deaths (63*1) shows an increase of nearly one-third
of the proportion in 1907.

* Rates per 1,000 persons.
† Per 1,000 births, fully corrected.
‡Per 100 deaths.
In November of last year enquiries were made by the Staff as to the numbers of empty
tenements in streets occupied mainly by the " working classes." The reports handed in
showed that some 3,382 rooms were then vacant, which number, at an allowance of 2 persons
per room, represented accommodation for (say) 6,750 persons. As a matter of fact, many
of the rooms were known to be large enough to accommodate at least 2 adults and 3—5