Labour 



to earn money and gradually to save until just 

 before he marries he is at the highest financial 

 point attainable, for he can live on a minimum of 

 7s. per week. Of course, he does not do that 

 because it is not necessary, but never again has he 

 so great a margin for luxuries. After he marries 

 and children come, he sinks again below the line, 

 and remains there for probably another eight or 

 ten years until his children begin to earn. After 

 that he should be able to keep above the line 

 until old age at sixty-five or seventy lessens his 

 earning powers, but as this decline is met by the 

 old age pension the greatest horror of his existence 

 is removed. He no longer looks with certainty to 

 poor relief or the workhouse. 



There is one astonishing fact to record (but to 

 prevent misconception I must state that I am not 

 a total abstainer nor an advocate thereof), that 

 the expenditure of the average working-class 

 family in England on drink is 6s. per week. This is 

 so well authenticated that there is no denying it, 

 and one can only stare in amazement. What the 

 agricultural labourer spends is not accurately 

 known, but as his average earnings are not equal 

 in my opinion to more than 18s. per week, and as 

 17s. is the absolute limit below which he cannot 

 rear a family, it is evident that there is only is. a 

 week for beer, tobacco, sweets, entertainments, 



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