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Further, if we take the decennium 1881-1891 and compare the
number of houses erected with the increase of population during
that period, we shall find that 4,488 new houses had to provide
accommodation for 34,925 persons, allowing 7.7 persons to each house
and if we make the same comparison for the quinquennium 1891-1896
we shall find that 997 houses erected during this period had to
provide accommodation for 14,438 persons, giving 14.4 persons to
each house, and from the census of 1896, to April, 1900, 817 have
been erected, which for an estimated increase of 11,548 population,
gives 14 persons to each house. So that from 1881 to 1900, for a
period of 19 years, at least, the growth of population in Hackney has
increased at a greater rate than its housing accommodation, leading
to the increase of overcrowding with its evils, and there is every
reason to believe that this disproportion is continuing at the present
time. It may be objected that in the census the large blocks of
workmen's dwellings capable of accommodating large numbers are
each counted in the census as one house, and by including such in
the above calculation, my results are not accurate; but on inquiring
into this matter, I am of opinion that this view of the case may be
neglected, as the relations I have established would not be materially
disturbed, by following the method of the Registrar General.
Other evidence pointing in the same direction may be seen in the
following table, which shows the number of unoccupied houses in
Hackney at the Censuses 1881, 1891, 1896, and at Michaelmas, 1900