119 
1916-17.] Labouring Class Dietaries in War Time. 
the wages of every fourth week. The women say that during “rent 
week” the diet is poor. Part of the money goes to insurance, which is 
kept regularly paid. Clothing is got how and when possible, and is rarely 
made by the house-mother. As a rule everything is paid for as bought, 
for it is difficult to get credit. This was very strikingly shown at the 
beginning of the war, when for a week or two, till the Government 
Separation Allowances arrived, numbers of families were absolutely de- 
pendent upon the relief granted by the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families 
Association. 
It is but fair to note here that there are wide differences in the character 
of the families visited, some having a high standard of home comfort, 
housing, etc., but unfortunately these have not necessarily the most satis- 
factory diet, as often so high a percentage of the income is spent upon 
rent and clothing that the food purchased is not sufficient. 
II. Income. 
The average income of the families studied is 30s. O^d.,* as compared 
with 28s. 3jfd. in the 1911-1912 families, or 8s. 6d. compared with 6s. per 
man per week, an increase of 42 per cent. 
Arranging in groups according to income, as was done by Miss Lindsay, 
we can compare as follows : — 
Regular Income. 
1911-12. 
1915-16. 
No. in 
Group. 
Percentage 
of Total 
Families. 
No. in 
Group. 
Percentage 
of Total 
Families. 
A. Children earning, income about 40s. . 
7 
11-7 
5 
12-5 
B. Lodgers kept, „ „ 43s. . 
8 
13-3 
4 
10 
C. Father only working, income over 31s. 
• • . 
... 
5 
12-5 
D. „ „ „ ,, 20s. to 31s. 
13 
233 
10 
25 
S. Soldiers’ wives, income average 26s. 2d. 
... 
... 
7 
175 
E. Father only working, incomeunder 20s. 
5 
8-3 
... 
... 
Irregular Income. 
F. Over 20s. ...... 
7 
11-7 
6 
15 
G. Under 20s. ..... 
8 
133 
3 
7-5 
In addition, Miss Lindsay studied some Jewish and Italian families 
which are here omitted. Two groups of regular incomes are added, namely : 
* Income is based on information supplied by the house-mothers. In no case was the 
employer appealed to for verification. 
