HH62/2/RENFRE/15

Transcription

[Page] 14

Most Closely Aggregated Populations, with Death Rates.

[Table inserted]

Least Closely Aggregated Populations, with Death Rates.

[Table inserted]

Of less importance, although not without a certain interest of its
own, is the analysis of the number of persons per household. The

* The mean death rate is not relatively very high, but that is explained by the
fact that it is these most closely aggregated populations which have an 'age-
distribution' most favourable to a low death rate - the bulk of the population
being in the prime of life, with a very small admixture of aged persons.

[Page] 15

five localities at the head of this list are all landward, with one ex-
ception. Stated in order, they are - Eaglesham landward, with 6·7
persons per household; Kilbarchan landward, with 6·1; Houston
landward and Blackstoun, 6·0; Abbey Parish landward, 5·9. A high
rate of persons per household implies one of two things, either a
social class amongst whom many servants are kept, or a high propor-
tion of large families. The first is the probable explanation of all
the above instances, except Blackstoun, where it is evident that the
proportion of large families is greater than elsewhere. At the other
end of the scale we have Houston (Village), with an average of 3·6
persons per household; Newton Mearns, with 4·0; Bridge of Weir
(Houston) and Lochwinnoch (Village), with 4·1; and Bishopton with
4·2. These figures probably imply that there is in these sections of
the County a considerable proportion of aged couples, whose families
have gone out into the world.
The proportion of uninhabited houses may be taken to represent,
broadly, the relative prosperity of the different localities at the time
of the Census. In Thornliebank there were reported to be no unin-
habited houses; at Anniesland, in the north part of the Parish of
Renfrew, the uninhabited houses were only one per cent. of the in-
habited houses; at Yoker, Ferry Road Head, Bridge of Weir (Ran-
furly), Bishopton, and Busby, 2 per cent.; at Scotstoun and Linwood,
3 per cent.; at Blackstoun, 4 per cent. At the other end of the
scale we have Eaglesham, with 87 per cent.; Inkerman, with 64 per
cent.; Clippens, with 57 per cent.; Houston (village) and Crosslee,
with 28 per cent.; Inverkip, with 26 per cent.; Gateside, with 24
per cent.; Newton Mearns, with 22 per cent. In two of the in-
stances in the latter list an exception, or partial exception, must be
made to the general deduction as to comparative prosperity. The
census is taken in the beginning of April; Eaglesham and Inverkip
are places of summer resort; if the census were taken at midsummer,
a much smaller proportion of unoccupied houses would fall to be
recorded in these villages.
There appears to be a general preponderance of females over males
in the County landward. This is most accentuated at Neilston, where,
probably in consequence of the number of female operatives employed
in the Cotton Mills, there are 124 females to every 100 males. In
Langbank the proportion is 118; here the excess is doubtless due to
the number of female domestic servants; in Eaglesham the proportion
is 116 - why I cannot say, unless it be that a large proportion of male
adults is drawn away to seek employment in the large towns; in