CONCLUSION 405 



relief of the poor was, in round numbers, 8 millions 

 sterling, and the mean number of paupers in that year 

 was 790,937. This expenditure rose steadily, till 

 last year (1904) it was above 13^ millions, the mean 

 number of paupers for that year being 837,680, or 

 46,743 more than in 1881. Of this total cost the 

 amount of "salaries and superannuation allowances 

 of Union officers, etc.," was in 1881 just over one 

 million sterling. Last year (1904) it was considerably 

 over 2^ millions. 



In 1881 the "principal of loans repaid and interest 

 on loans" amounted to ;^338,4i9. This item also 

 rose, year by year, till in 1904 it was over one million 

 sterling. 



" The cost per pauper," calculated on mean numbers 

 of paupers of all classes and total expenditure on 

 relief," was ;!^io. 4s. lod. in 1881. Last year (1904) 

 it was ;i^i5. 19s. 2d. 



" The State Children Association " (the term " State 

 Children " is significant) in its fifth report refers to the 

 enormous sums sanctioned by the Local Government 

 Board for the " building of village communities and 

 blocks" for pauper children. The buildings erected 

 by one Board of Guardians, buildings " which include 

 several blocks for 50 boys in each, entailed the ex- 

 penditure of ;i^28o per bed for 800 children." The 

 upkeep of these children communities seems to be 

 equally costly. One Board of Guardians reports that 

 " for the half-year ending Lady Day, 1903, each child 

 cost the ratepayers, inclusive of all charges, 23s. a 

 week." 



Dealing with the increase and cost of vagrancy, 

 the Report states, " apart from the loss to the nation 

 in life, morality, and wealth, entailed by vagrancy, the 



