The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-09 00:00:00

STATISTICS OF POPULATION,
EDUCATION, &c.

The "Statistical Abstract for the 'United Kingdom" has
just been issued, and is probably the most valuable of the
numerous itatiatical Blue Buoka pregentea to Parliament.
The Daily News notices the publication in an article, from
which we make the following extract

"The population is estimated at the middle of the
present year to have been 34,156,113, which shows
rather more than the customary increase of 1 per cent.
on the preceding twelve months. The increase has been
greater relatively in England and Wales than in the
other two sections of the Kingdom, and the statistics of
births, deaths, and marriages show more than an ordi-
nary augmentation in the births in this country last
year. Both in Scotland and Ireland there has been
a decline, and the deaths in both those countries
have increased. In England the death rate has also
been greater, the inclement weather which lasted so
long having had its effect on old as well as very young
people. The number of emigrants from these shores,
which had fallen off in two or three previous years,
has again increased, and to both the United Statei
and Australia there has been a greater exodus, while
fewer immigrants have arrived. In connection wail
the population question, the figures relating to pauper-
ism have some special significance, and they indicate un-
fortunately a serious state of things. On the Ist of
January this year there were 118,933 adult able bodied
paupers maintained by 649 unions and parishes, as against
97,927 at the same date in 1878. And all other paupers
(exclusive of vagrants) amounted to 681,493 as against
644,776. Thus there were 57,700 more people in receipt
of relief, and the expense incurred in their mainten-
ance must have been correspondingly great. It is
possible to tell what the exact amount was so expended,
aa the figures in this respect only reach to larch,
1878, but, judging from the augmentation then
shown over 1877, the extra cost must have been
over a million sterling, SD that imperial and boa
expenditure moved onward pari passu. The convic
tions for crime which in 1877 had shown a satisfactory
diminution, increased last year, and in Scotland the
augmentation was as much as eleven per cent. No
improvement in the social status of the lower classes
of the population can be traced if attention is only
given to statistics of pauperism and crime, but theie
are, happily, some indications to be found in other
quarters that things are not so bad as would appear at
first sight.
The number of children attending certified schools
in the United Kingdom has steadily risen for many
years, but in 1878 there was a rapid bound. In
Great Britain there were 3,050,897 children,
present at inspection in the year ended 31st August,
1877, while at that date last year the number had
risen to 3,383, 148. It is gratifying to find with this
great increase in the nuttily:r who attend primary
schools that the expenditure ef the public money for
the education afforded has not advanced in the same
ratio, It is true that the total sum spent was rather
larger, but naturally the augmentation was due to the
capitation charged for attendance and examination.
The deposits in the Post Office and private savings
banks show a fairly satisfactory advance, and at the
end of the year the first•eamed held £30,411 563,
as compared with £28,740,757 at the end of 1877.
This would not seem to indicate that thsre is any
serious consumption of capital going on in spite
of depressed trade and distress in some districts. As
in the case of the savings banks, the deposits with the
Bank of England are larger now than ever recorded,
and money is simply being withheld from circulation
by reason of distrust. This may not be deemed satis-
factory regarded commercially, but it is a sign that
the internal wealth of the cmintry has not diminished
to any extent. In some respects the voluminous
tables given in the "Statistical Abstract" would
tend to inspire a gloomy view of the position
of the country, but there are, as we have seen, re.
redeeming features, and it now only requires a fairly
good harvest to ensure that the figures which will be
made up at the end of the present year will compare
favourably with those of 1878."