ON THE AMOUNT AND DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME!, 



171 



receipt of incomes of different amounts. The total may be divided into three 

 classes: (a) amount subject to income-tax; (6) amount received as wages; 

 (c) remainder. Fairly adequate information is extant for classes (a) and (6), 

 but no serious inquiry, official or private, has been made in recent years as to 

 (c), and this unknown amount is the subject of vague and misleading guesses. 

 Absence of information on this subject is one of the most serious gaps in our 

 national statistics, which are otherwise becoming fairly complete. The work of 

 the Committee named above is to form a reasoned estimate as to the numbers 

 and income of persons, where income from all sources is less than 160?. and does 

 not arise from wages. Apart from persons in receipt of pensions, annuities, and 

 dividends (as to whom the Income-tax Commissioners give some information), 

 the class in question consists largely of clerks, teachers, shop assistants, &c. 

 The Committee, having considered the practicable means of forming an estimate, 

 is of opinion that the answers to the questions on the annexed schedule, which 

 is being issued to a number of Companies and Corporations, would be of material 

 assistance to them in their task, when used in conjunction with the Population 

 Census and other information. The Committee will, then, be greatly indebted to 

 you if you will fill in the details asked as to your Firm, Company, or Corporation, 

 and return the form at your early convenience. 



The returns will be used only for purposes of averages and will be regarded 

 as strictly confidential ; no name, whether of an individual or of a company, will 

 be used in the report. 



I am, &c. 



CONFIDENTIAL. 



Year and locality to which information applies .;...,,.*., ,,.,,, ,,., 



Nature of business or occupation 



[If shop assistants in retail business or commercial travellers are 

 employed, details should be given under the same headings on 

 a separate page.] 



A. Number of partners, managers, clerks, &c, who draw more than 160?. 



per annum. 



Men Women 



B. Number of partners, managers, clerks, &c, who draw 160?. or less. (L>o 



not include (i) workmen, porters, messengers, &c— i.e., those in receipt 

 of wages — or (ii) clerks, &c, who do not give their full time to your 

 business). 



Men and lads Women and girls 



As regards B. 



Total amount paid to these clerks, &c. . . £ 



The above will give the essential information, but it is also important to fill 

 in the following table : — 



Number of clerks, &c. (under B), whose incomes fall within the following 

 limits :— B 



