View report page

This year the Registrar General has given his estimate of the
mid-year population of Romford as 51,830, which compares, with
49,250 last year, an increase of 2,580, and incidentally, it will be
noted that officially we have now passed the 50,000 mark. In the
various returns of the Registrar General, however, it would appear
that the designation of "Great Town" is based on a population of
50,000, or over, at the last Census, so Romford, statistically speaking,
will have to bask in potential glory for a few years yet.
Populations vary in size according to two factors, viz.: 1. The
Ratio of Births to Deaths, and 2. Migration. So far as Romford is
concerned, during 1937, the total number of live births registered was
847, and the total number of deaths registered was 496. The difference
of 351 gives the natural increase in the population. As this number
falls far short of the Registrar General's estimated increase of
2,580, it follows that the remainder, 2,229 is made up of excess of
Immigration over Emigration.
In a district such as this, with considerable building activity still
going on, it is difficult to estimate the future trend of population, so
far as size is concerned, and, yet, this trend has an important bearing
on social and economic factors. Then, again, in dealing with trend
of population, consideration must also be given to age distribution,
for it naturally follows that different types of social service have to
be provided for varying age groups. Sex distribution is also of great
importance, for, as McCleary has pointed out, "most members of
the population are not capable of bearing children. It is a service
reserved by Nature for women at certain ages," and these ages are
generally stated to be between 15 and 45 years.
I think it will be conceded that a fall in the birth rate means in
time that there will be a fewer number of individuals in the younger
age groups, although, temporarily, this may be checked by a fall in
the Infant Mortality Rate. In Romford, however, for a number of
years, the Infant Mortality Rate has fluctuated between 35 and 60,
and it is unlikely that a spectacular reduction will occur, so this factor
can, with us, be ignored.