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London Country Council
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1926.
VOL. III—PUBLIC HEALTH.
CHAPTER I.
REPORT OF THE COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH (Dr. F. N.
KAY MENZIES) FOR THE YEAR 1926.
Vital Statistics.
The population of the County of London at the census of 20th June, 1921,
was 4,484,523, including members of the Armed Forces in London but excluding
Londoners on active service elsewhere. It is estimated by the Registrar-General
that the population, with residence in London at the date of the census, was about
4,524,000, allowance being made in this estimate for persons absent on holiday
when the census was taken. The Registrar-General estimates the total population
in the middle of 1926 to have been 4,615,400, including 10,000 non-civilians. The
estimated mid-year populations of the metropolitan boroughs in 1926 are shown
in the table on page—.
Population.
The Registrar-General's estimate of the population of London in 1926 allows
an increase of 91,400 in the County population in the five years since the last census.
During this period the births have exceeded the deaths by 165,500, so that there
has been a loss by the excess of emigration over immigration of about 74,000 persons.
The marriages registered in London during 1926 numbered approximately
39,670 or 17.2 per thousand of the population, this being the same as in 1925
and 1924.
Marriages.

Births.
The continued fall of the birth-rate cannot but give rise to concern, both in
local administration and in national affairs, for the empty cradles of to-day mean
empty schools to-morrow and later on empty workshops. In this connection,
however, some comfort may be derived from the fact that Dr. Greenwood in
"Metron" (vol. 5, No. 2) estimates that at the census of 1931 the population under
5 years of age in England and Wales will be in excess of that enumerated at the
last census. On the other hand, Dr. T. H. C. Stevenson, in introducing a debate
on "The Laws Governing Population" before the Royal Statistical Society in
December, 1924, observed, that "it seems very probable that the momentum of the
present fall may carry us to a considerably lower level than any yet attained," and
the seriousness of the position lies in the fact that whatever steps may be taken
to arrest the fall will be slow in their operation. The following is a brief review of
some of the causes which are thought to have played a part in bringing about the
decline of the birth-rate.
Decline of
birth-rate.
In the early part of the last century children of parents of the poorer class were
employed when only six or seven years of age in machine minding and in coal mines,
etc. In 1816 their employment for more than twelve hours (excluding meal times)
was made illegal, but this enactment applied only to cotton mills. In 1833 children
Causes of
decline.
Decrease in
wage-earning
of children.
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