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9
method of multiplying the number of occupied houses (as
ascertained from the Rat© Books) by the average number of
persons per house found at thg previous Census. The estimate
Dr. Prior arrived at was over 4,000 in excess of the Census
figure, and probably over 5,000 in exoess of the actual population
at the middle of 1910. The explanation is that the
average number of persons nor house is now less
than iit was at the 1901 Census. The population of many of
the large towns was over-estimated by many thousands, this
being caused to a great extent by the migration towards the
suburban districts. Thei disadvantage of these inaccuracies
is that, if the error is considerable, many of the Vital Statistics
are misleading, and the farther we get from the Census year
the greater the chance of this. I have pointed out in the
substance of the report how this affects Finchley. The importance
of an accurate determination of the Vital Statistics
in each district is so great that on more than one occasion a
strong plea has been made for a quinquennia] Census, and no
doubt this will one day be obtained.