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3
POPULATION.
The Population of the Borough of Southwark some time during the
last decade reached in all probability its highest point in regard to
density.
The diminution in the number of inhabitants has not been uniform
throughout the Borough. The Census returns show that the northern or
river side districts have suffered most in that respect. The old lament of
overcrowdedness is rapidly being removed. The estimated population for
1910, was found at the last Census to have exceeded by 19,000 the actual
number of our inhabitants. Some portion of this error is to be accounted
for by the various clearance schemes undertaken during the last few
years, in which the dislodged people have not yet returned or the areas
have not yet been entirely built upon. Other agencies have been at
work, such as the clearing away of debased and worn out property which
have been replaced by business premises.
This change in the character of the borough has been beneficial both
to the health of the inhabitants remaining and the finances of the Local
Authority. In regard to the death-rate, although it cannot be considered
high, it is above the average death-rate for the Metropolis as a whole,
and that might be expected when the class of inhabitants is taken into
consideration. In the northern part casual labourers and common
lodging houses abound, while in the south there is a resident population
in which many of the wage earners work away from home. Large
numbers of these wage earners do not come home to sleep and therefore
are not numbered on the Census return, but should they become ill they
come home, and if they die they are included in our mortality lists.
This is the case with thousands of our people; for instance, our girls are
working in situations at Hampstead and for Census purposes they belong
to Hampstead, but when they are taken ill and die they belong to
Southwark.
This is very well for Hampstead, but it is not so satisfactory for
Southwark when the death-rate is under consideration.