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11
Vital Statistics. (Appendix B. Tables I., II., III., IV. and V.)
The first and most important matter is the just estimation
of the population at Midsummer of last year.
In former years I have pointed out the reasons why the
official method of estimating populations during inter-censal
periods has, for this district, so little validity.
It is sufficient therefore to indicate now that, as shown by
the subjoined table, the inhabited houses in Mortlake have during
the last four and a quarter years increased by more than 50 per
cent., and those in Barnes by more than 25 per cent.
At the present time the inhabited houses in the two parishes
are of almost equal number and, assuming that the number of persons
per house has remained fairly constant, it is reasonable to estimate
the present population of Barnes at about 12,250, that of Mortlake
at 12,000, and that of the whole district at 24,250.
That this estimate is for the whole district a fair one appears
from the fact that the birth rate, calculated on this estimate, works
out at 24.7, or slightly above the average for the last 10 years. If
the population were over-estimated the birth rate would be less than
the average for the last 10 years.
It should be noted moreover that the total births during 1905
were 18 less than during 1904, and that the birth rate is apparently
now as high in Mortlake as in Barnes.
That this is so is explained by the fact that the greater
increase in "villa residents" has lately been in Mortlake.
Birth rates are high in "new" districts and "estates"; low
in old ones.