TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS, 167 
Section A.—Ratio per cent. of Paupers to the Population. 
Union, «December Tisoin June 166m, Absolut ie anaes Toe 
Macclesfield.... 4:7 01 4:8 34 per cent. 
alford........ 35 0-9 4-4 oe <%, 
Bolton ........ 30 0-4 3 41 iF 
Wigan .;...... 30 08 3°8 38 : 
Byes a aves 25 13 3°83 BO: gg 
Chorlton ...... 19 0:8 27 GSE ses 
Oldham ...... 19 0-9 2:8 to ne 
Section B. comprises five unions with a population of 442,644 persons, In this 
section the absolute increase in the number of paupers at Midsummer last was over 
100, and under 150 per cent. The proportionate pauperism at Christmas 1861 was 
3°6 per cent., or 1:2 more than at the previous Christmas. During the half-year 
ended with Midsummer last, it rose 20 per cent. ; therefore at the latter date it was 
56 per cent. 
Section B.—Rate per cent. of Paupers to the Population. 
Absolute increase, Midsummer 
Unions, &e. : a 3 fate June 1862. 1862, compared with 1861. 
ee 5:0 2-4 74 127 per cent. 
Rochdale ...:.... 2:8 2:0 4:8 ba 
Burnley .......5 2:2 23 4:5 TAD as cess 
Haslingden ...... 2:0 05 25 108 _ 
Section C. contains four unions, with an aggregate population of 459,547 persons. 
In this group the absolute pauperism at Midsummer last was in excess of that of 
Midsummer 1861 by 150 per cent. and upwards. The proportionate pauperism at 
Christmas 1861 was 3:7 per cent. on the population, or 1-7 per cent. more than at 
the corresponding season of 1860. During the Midsummer half-year of 1862 the 
pauperism rose 4°9 per cent.; consequently at the end of June last it was 8°6 per 
cent. This is by far the most pauperized section of the three. 
Section C.—Rate per cent. of Paupers to the Population. 
Brisk || Desemt Saisie ts hap ice” A ee a 
_ Preston «:.... 6:4 4:6 11:0 283 per cent, 
Blackburn . 4-4 5:2 9°6 322 yy 
Stockport .... 2:4 4:0 6:4 306 sy 
eae pre 58 71 cman 
6. The pauperism of a union is correctly expressed by the ratio which the num- 
ber receiving relief from the poor-rates bears to the population of the place. The 
rate of absolute increase in the number of paupers measures more directly the 
pressure upon the relief-lists, due to the suspension or diminution of the ordinary 
industrial occupations of a district. For example, the increase in the Ashton-under- 
Lyne union at Midsummer was 458 per cent., and in the Preston union 283 per 
cent. But the pauperism of the Preston union was much greater than that of 
Ashton, being in the former place 11:0 per cent. on the population, and in the 
latter 7'1 per cent. only. Preston stare from a point considerably higher than 
Ashton, but proceeded with less rapid strides. In Ashton-under-Lyne the converse 
process took place: similar remarks are respectively applicable to other unions of 
the cotton manufacturing districts. 
7. Three tables have been framed to exhibit the rise of pauperism in the se- 
lected unions during the two first quarters of the present year. The first column 
of ratios in each table shows the percentage of paupers in the last week of Decem- 
ber 1860, taken upon the population of 1861, that census being employed as nearer 
to the truth than any mere estimate. The next column gives the ratios for De- 
cember 1861. By a comparison of the two, the proportion of pressure in each 
