123 
1916-17.] Labouring Class Dietaries in War Time. 
Comparison of Energy Value and Protein in the Different Groups. 
1911-12. 
1915-16. 
No. of 
Families. 
Energy 
Value. 
Protein. 
No. of 
Families. 
Energy 
Value. 
Protein. 
A. Children earning, aver- 
7 
3184 
113-8 
5 
3568-5 
109-1 
age 40s. 
B. Lodgers kept, average 43s. 
8 
3316 
111-7 
4 
3202-8 
105-7 
C. Wage regular, over 31s. 
... 
... 
... 
5 
3505 
108-8 
D. „ 20s. to 31s. 
13 
3458 
117-8 
10 
3002 
95-1 
S. Soldiers’ wives, average 26s. 
• • • 
... 
... 
7 
327P3 
94-5 
F. Income irregular, over 20s. 
7 
2994 
108 
6 
3712-5 
114 
G. „ „ under 20s. 
8 
2797 
96-6 
3 
2823-9 
78-6 
From these figures it will be seen that the energy and protein contents 
of the diets decrease progressively with the increase of poverty. 
In both groups with irregular incomes in the 1911-12 studies the 
energy value is under 3000 Calories per man per day. In the present 
studies only group G (irregular income, under 20s.) does not reach this 
figure. 
Three of the 1915-16 groups do not have 100 grams of protein per man 
per day. All the 1911-12 groups are above 100 grams except Class G 
(irregular income, under 20s.). 
In the earlier studies, group F (families with irregular income, over 
20s.), the energy value is low. Group F in the present studies has the 
highest average. The reason for this is that at present the average 
income is good— up to £2 in two of the families, since labourers, who 
constitute the great number of the heads of families in this group, are much 
in request just now, and the irregularity in some cases is simply the result 
of a varying amount of overtime, and not, as in the previous studies, of 
under-employment. 
Group D of the recent studies, which has an average energy value of 
just over 3000 Calories and 95 grams of protein, is interesting. Of the ten 
families composing it, two were very superior, living in homes which were 
much above the average in comfort, 20 per cent, of the income being spent 
on rent, as against the average 13 per cent. One of these householders was 
a motor driver in the service of the G.P.O., earning 30s. weekly, and living 
in a house of three apartments ; the other was a painter, only partly em- 
ployed owing to seasonal slackness. One diet is low owing to bad market- 
ing, i.e. buying the more expensive food, such as eggs and cooked meats. 
Three other families have insufficient diets, probably on account of the 
large number of young children in each, and the consequent stretching of 
income to cover all their needs. 
