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109
There have been plans submitted during the year for 152
houses to be built by private enterprise. 4 were completed
by the end of the year, and 3 others were in course of erection.
123. Population. There have been no important changes
in the population during the year. The figures given by the
Registrar General, 147,827, mean an increase over last year
of 5,909, but, judging by the information disclosed by the
Housing Survey and by the relative fewness of complaints
of overcrowding during the last half of the year, it is rather
doubtful whether this increase exists. Owing to the rapid
change in the housing conditions of the Borough since the last
Census, it is very difficult indeed to arrive at any figure with
regard to population based on the number of persons per room.
I am therefore looking forward to the 1921 Census figures with
keen interest.
HOUSING SURVEY.
124. (a) Fitness of Houses.
(b) Overcrowding.
During the year the whole time of two inspectors has been
engaged in connection with the Housing Survey of the Borough,
and the information obtained is set out concisely below.
The worst areas in the District were inspected first. The
details recorded of the inspections include not only nuisances
liable to be dealt with under the Public Health, and Housing
Acts, but also any other circumstance which did not comply
with the amenities and ideals of Housing. The records of
the inspections were made on cards, the details of the Survey
being recorded under the following eight separate headings:—
1. Arrangements for preventing contamination of water
supply.
2. Water closet accommodation.