140 



REPORT — 1865. 



Table M. — Population and Wealth. 



Table N. — United Kingdom ; Popidation and Income. 



In examining the figures of the three latter Tables, we discern one of the chief 

 causes of the public tranquillity and contentment which now so happily prevail. 

 Associated with this marvellous development of national wealth there is a dimi- 

 nished taxation — in other words, there is less to pay and more to pay it with, so 

 that the burthen of it is easily supportable as compared with the pressure of former 

 years, and it is much to be desired that the same results should be sought and 

 achieved by our local municipal government. 



It has been seen that the expenses of the Corporation for 1864 were 10s. KM per 

 head, and as in addition thereto the cost of relieving the poor in the same year was 

 6s. 4(7., it follows that we have altogether the very serious expenditure of 17s. 2d. 

 per head. The introduction of railways and of steam navigation, and the removal 

 of some of the restrictions upon trade, are bringing us more and more into competi- 

 tion with the cheap labour and lightly-taxed populations of other countries ; and 

 an economical administration of the public affairs of the town, or the absence of it, 

 may therefore exercise an important influence upon the permanent welfare of this 

 busy and industrious community. 



In bringing this paper to a close, an attentive consideration of the subject appears 

 to lead to the following conclusions : — ■ 



1. That the progress of the town in wealth and population has been enormous, 

 but that the amount of taxation and of municipal expenditure has increased in still 

 greater proportions. 



2. That the public debt especially appears to have excessively increased, owing 

 to the rapidity with which public works and various improvements have been ex- 

 ecuted, thereby imposing heavy burthens upon the present generation of rate- 

 payers. 



3. That it would have been desirable to have omitted some of the least im- 

 portant of these undertakings, and to have extended the others over a longer period 

 of time, and that for the future they should either be suspended altogether, or 

 proceeded with more slowly and deliberately. 



4. That an increased taxation does not appear to have materially interrupted the 

 progress and prosperity of the town, but that in the event of any continued depres- 

 sion of trade, it would be almost insupportable by large numbers of the rate-payers, 

 and that therefore the utmost vigilance and caution shoidd be constantly exercised 

 to control and diminish its amount. 



Social, Educational, and Religious Position of the Working Population of 



South Staffordshire. By the Eev. W. J. Bain. 



Every one who has travelled through South Staffordshire has been struck with 



the appearance of the district and the people. The view from any of its central 



eminences is weird and striking. The mighty furnaces belching forth fire and 



