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10
the 1908 mid-year population as 131,486. That such growth has not
taken place will be readily conceded by those with knowledge of our
local circumstances.
During the year under review plans for 196 houses were passed.
Were all these completed, the maximum accommodation so provided
would be for 1.176 persons.
But as against this possible increased population the Overseers'
official returns for 1908 show an increase of 160 empty houses over the
previous year.
Short then of an official Census, local knowledge of existing conditions
must be relied on for an approximately correct estimation.
The population, in my judgment, in the mid-year did not exceed
123,500, and on this basis deductions are drawn as between the various
Wards.
For the purpose of forming the birth and death-rates upon which
comparisons are made with other parts of the country, I adopt the
population as given by the Registrar-General, this being necessary, as
his method of estimating the population here and elsewhere is alike,
based on a like assumption.
The next Census will probably show, especially for towns like
Walthamstow, that the enumerated will fall far short of the estimated
populations, but in the older towns where phenomenal growth had not
taken place in 1891-1901 the error will be much less.
In estimating the Ward populations I have adopted the method of
previous years.
Starting with the Census year of 1901 with the known number
of houses, occupied, unoccupied and in course of construction, I have
added the probable number since erected as shown from the number of
plans passed.
Corrections are then made for the probable number not yet completed
and for empties, and assuming that the number of persons per
house is constant, I arrive at the population. Absolute correctness is
not claimed for the figures arrived at, but there is every reason to accept
them as reliable.
The Education Authority had a census made in April of the number
of houses in each Ward, and a copy has been furnished me by
Mr. Jones, the Superintendent of the Attendance Officers, who made it.