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13
other hand, the new property is less substantial and less expensive,
and is particularly designed to attract the newly-married town
worker. Consequently, a tendency which I have noted for some
time past has become accentuated, and, without doubt, the figures
of the new census, when investigated, will shew a difference in the
character and age of the two populations. In Barnes the population
is, on the whole, an older and more prosperous one than that
of Mortlake, and in this fact is to be found the explanation of
certain statistical results; such as the higher birth-rate and
infantile death-rate of Mortlake. The higher average age of the
Barnes population on the other hand, is the reason that the general
death-rate of this parish is slightly higher than that of Mortlake,
although there is no doubt that, in popular terms, Barnes is the
more " healthy " of the two places. The figures will be found in
Tables I. and 11., on pages 53 and 54.
In my report for last year I mentioned that a sub-committee
was then earnestly at work on the Malthouse area question, and,
too optimistically, I expressed the opinion that, this year, I should be
able to report that some practical steps had been taken. The subcommittee
just mentioned fully considered the matter, and presented
to the Council an exceedingly valuable report, recommending the
adoption of a very satisfactory scheme. This scheme provided
for a widening of the existing alleys known as Malthouse Passage
(see frontispiece), the removal of certain cottages and the erection
of others, and, incidently, would open up the waste land at the
back of Thornes' Cottages and facilitate the creation of a roadway
through to Grove Road. Some desultory correspondence
with the Local Government Board has ensued, I believe, but
practically the matter stands, I very much regret to say, as it did
ten years ago, when I first brought it to the notice of the Council.
In the meantime the virtual loss to the rates from the
melancholy condition of what is known as the High Street