WIFE'S STRUGGLE ON £1 A WEEK

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 191, 8 May 1920, Page 4

WIFE'S STRUGGLE ON £1 A WEEK

PROVIDING FOR FAMILY OF ELEVEN. Astonishing statements were made by a mother at an inquest on her dead baby —one of twins—at Twitchen (Devon). Sha said she had nine other children, and her husband, a farm labourer, only received £1 for a full week's work. He had. two meals a day at the farm where he worked. She added that she had lived in her cottage for over eleven years, and during that time no repairs had been done. Tnero was a largo hole in tho roof which let in tho rain. A doctor said the baby's death was due to syncope resulting from malnutrition.. Ho attached no blame to the mother. In his opinion the cottage was unfit for habitation. • . It was stated.'that recently the mother gave birth to Urtns. One of them died within a few days. ' Tho other had seemed all right until a few days before its death. Tho Coroner (to tho mother): Is £1 a week all tho money you havo to maintain,, clothe, and feed yourself, husband, and nine children? The Mother:' Yes. The woman pleaded that she had dona her best for the children, and appealed to the. Coroner "not to deal harshly" with her. The Coroner said tho mother s appeal was most pathetic. He had not the slightest intention of "dealing harshly" with her, but would very much like to do 60 with some other people. The condition of the house was absolutely disgraceful. It was not fit for a pig to livo in. There were only two bedrooms for the man, his wife, and nine children. It was scandalous that a woman should have to bring up such a family on the sum she stated she received, with tho purchasing power of a sovereign at about Bs. ' A verdict of "Death from natural causes" was returned, the Coroner exonerating the mother, from blame. Ho expressed sympathy with her, and promised to do what he could to get the matter remedied.