LONDON’S PAUPERISM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 11

LONDON’S PAUPERISM.

There wore more paupers on the books of the Poor Law unions of England and Wales at tho end of July than at the corresponding date in any year since 1873. Taking tho increase in population into account, however, the picture is not quite so black, for the number of paupers per 1,000 of the population was greater in 1898 and in tho preceding five years than it is at present. At the same time, the statistics show that wo are in a worse position as regards pauperism than at any corresponding period for seven years. The actual number of paupers in the country on the last Saturday in July was 752,668. The following table, giving the ratio of those receiving relief per 1,000 of the population, shows clearly tho situation at tho present time. Lunatics, “casuals,” and those merely under medical treatment are excluded from all the figures;—

It is satisfactory to note that the proportion of paupers has been deoreasing_ fairly steadily since 1868, when the ratio was 41.6 per 1,000, but the fall is in outdoor relief. Workhouse inmates are on the increase, and have never boon so many as now. Taking the figures for London alone, a remarkable state of affairs is disclosed. Not only is the poverty index generally higher than in the country, as a whole, but the proportion of workhouse inmates is considerably more than double, the outdoor relief being lees. Of 24.6 per 1,000 of the population who are in receipt of relief in London no less than 15.4 are in the workhouse, the proportion being greater than has been known before. The total pauperism figure of 24.6 per thousand, which represents the state of things at the end of July, is the highest at this time of the year for 30 years past.

1898 ... ... 23.4 1899 ... ... 21.1 1900 :.. ... 20.4 1901 ... ... 20.6 1902 ... ... 20.8 1903 ... ... 20.8 1904 ... ... 21.6 1905 ... ... 22.0