The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-03 00:00:00

PAUPERISM AND DISTRESS.

On Saturday was issued a Blue book giving the
return of copies of circular letters addreszed by the
Local Government Board to Boards of Guardians in
the metropolis and certain provincial unions, and to
the vestries and district boards in the metropolis with
reference to pauperism and distress, and of the
replies received and of other papers on the subject,
prefaced by a summary in the form of a memo-
randum by Mr. Hugh Offen, C. 8., Secretary to
the Local Government Board.

From this memorandum it appears that the returns
of pauperism in the metropolitan district for the
month of January last show that the number of
persons in receipt of relief increasei from 94,952 in
the first week to 100,597 in the last week of the
month. In 1881, however, the number of paupers in
the corresponding week was 105 624, and in the 14
years from 1861 to 1874 inclusive, the numbers were
much higher than in the present year, and varied
from 103,684 in 1863 to 168,809 in 1867. In
each of the years 1867, 1868, 1870, and 1871,
the p aupers relieved in the last week of January
were 60,000 more than in the corresponding
week this year. The number of paupers to every
1000 of the population was 24.6 in the last week of
January of the present year as against 24.4 in 1885
and 24.0 in 1884; but with the exo3ption of these
two years and 1878, it was less in the present year
than in any other year since 1861. As regards the
returns for the whole of England and Wales the
number of persons in receipt of relief increased from
742,999 in the first week of January last to 770,570 in
the last week of the month. But the number then
relieved, which was 28.0 to every 1000 of the popula-
tion, was, with the exception of 1885 and 1884 when
the numbers were 27.4 and 27.1 respectively, smaller
than during any of the thirty years from 1857 to
1886, if the increase of population be taken into con-
sideration.

The replies which the Board have received from
the Boards of Guardians and other local authorities
show that in several parts of the metropolis and in
many parts of the unions in the provinces there is un-
usual distress among the persons above the pauper
class. In Kensington there is exceptional distress
among the class oflrespectable and willing workers,
who prefer to suffer the severest privations rather
than apply for Poor Law relief. The guardians of
Hampstead state that distress among these
classes is great and unusual in their parish. In
Hackney, also, there is considerable distress among
persons who will not apply to the guardians for re-
lief. In Shoreditch, while there is ordinary distress
among the classes that readily seek relief, there is
great suffering among the labouring classes who do
not seek the relieving officer until forced by acute
suffering. From Camberwell, St. Pancras, St. Olave's,
Bethnal-green, Holborn, Rotherhithe, and Poplar
the reports of the guardians are to a similar effect,
and letters received in reply to inquiries addressed to
individuals able to give accurate information condrm
the reports of the local authorities.

As regards unions in the provinces distress of an
exceptional character among persons who have not ap-
plied for relief is reported to exist at Hartlepool,
Newport (Monmouth), Brighton, Gloucester,
Sheffield, Northampton, Prescot, Barton-upon-Irwel,
Southampton, Pontypridd, Liverpool, Ashton-under-
Lyne, Salford, Wolverhampton, Dover, Burton-on-
Trent, Derby, Stoke-upon-Trent, Walsall, and in
several other large towns.

The reasons assigned for this exceptional distress
are the depression of trade and the unusual severity
of the weather. The latter reason especially applies
to the large class of persons dependent on the build-
ing trade.
The arguments against the proposals for relieving
this distress by means of public works in the sense of
State works appear to Mr. Owen to be very strong.
There is the question as to whether the State can
rightly do anything that would favour the view that
in times of pressure-it devolves on the State to pro-
vide employment for those who are out of work.
Then, again, the distress being as great in provincial
towns as in London, if State works were undertaken
in the metropolis these other localities would have a
claim for similar works to be undertaken in their
districts, and such proposals would lead to a struggle
between different districts for the advantage resulting
from an expenditure of State funds in any particular
locality, and it would frequently happen that no
works could be carried out by the Government in a
particular town without practically relieving the local
rates of an expense which should be borne by the
district. •

In many districts of the metropolis and in other
towns there are works which the local authorities
could undertake with very distinct advantage in their
districts. By expediting such works much assistance
might be given to those who are unemployed, and
they might be made the means of helping those who
are most indisposed to subject themselves to the dis-
qualification attaching to the receipt of relief from the
rates and to the stigma of pauperism. They might
at the same time, being carried out by the local
authorities themselves by co-operation with guardians
and vestries and district boards, practically take the
place of the labour test which is imposed by the
guardians in the case of those who apply for outdoor
relief on the ground of being out of work.