The Minimum Marrying Income.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XIII, 28 September 1901, Page 602

The Minimum Marrying Income.

How much money should a young man earn before marrying? Clergymen, business men. and prominent women have made estimates varying from 30/ to £3 10/ a week. “A young man can marry on 30/ or £2 a week if he gets the right kind of girl. It isn’t what the man makes, but what the woman saves that counts.” says Father Dalton. "! have never had a case of genuine poverty in my parish, and I know what can be done. The trouble now lies in the spirit of extravagance and display that prevails. Twenty-nine years ago men supported a wife on 5/

a day. These men raised large families, and some of them are now wealthy citizens.

"To-day a young couple think they cannot start out in life without ostentation. Instead of paying as they go they handicap their life journey by going on the hire-purchase system. The woman of to-day holds the solution of the question. Social conditions are such that her life is drifting away from household instincts. "Why. a man and woman can live on less than £3 a week, and support a family. Of course it is an effort, but life is an effort at best. Everything is an effort.” “A young man can live nicely on

£2 5/ or £2 10/ a week if he wants to marry—it depends, of course, on the young man.” said a lady who is much intelested in the subject.

"it is the young man and his habits. Just think what cigars amount to and similar expenses? Certainly the young woman plays an important part in the economical scheme, for the majority are not properly trained for housewives, but if a young man is extravagant everything is lost.

"I know of instances where young men have married on £3 5/ a week and lived pleasantly.” "I have married 1700 couples," said the Rev. S. A. Northrup, "and I

ought to know something about the subject. Young people to-day want to start out on the same scale that old people finish with. There is too much flourish and false aspiration. "No young man should contemplate matrimony until he has saved £25. A young man can live, though, on £lOO a year, and if he marries the right kind of girl he can get along well.”

"The average couple will spend every penny of the husband's salary,” says another clergyman, "whether it be 30/ or £3 10/ a week. Of course I have seen families live on less than 30/ a week, but that amount is the minimum on which I think a young man should marry.”