THE PAUPER'S PARADISE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8125, 27 April 1906, Page 7

THE PAUPER'S PARADISE.

The inquiry wbioh Mr John Burns as President' of the Local Government Board, lias ordered into the administration of the Poplar Guar dian nromises to bring to light some highly interesting facts concerning "the way the money goes." The Poplar Guardians, it is alleged, have become so generous in rheir spending of the ratepayers 1 money on paupers that ladies in receipt of outdoor relief are able to give parties and buy new furniture on the hire-purchase system. This reads very like some stories that used tobe told in Obristcburch. It is even suggested that the fame of •the Poplar Guardians' generosity has resulted in attracting to the district large numbers of poor people and idle vagabonds from other parts of London, vrhere inoonvenient inquiries into tba real necessities of applicants for relief are the rule. When, recently, the Guardians propounded a scheme for spending some £6,000 on ereotinga new relief station, they proceeded in the matter for all the world as though they bad successfully establishe3 a new br»noh of a great commercial enterprise. One local wag thus satirised their works: —"Ladies and Gentlemen of Poplar, —lu consequence of the groat development of our out-relief business, we have been compelled to purchase a valuable site on which we propose tu erect new premises. The continuance of yoar esteemed commands is respectfully solicited." The number of paupers chargeable to the Poplar Union last year was 11,654 being 52 per cent. INCREASE OVER THE NUMBER for the previous year. The average increase for all metropolitan unions or parishes for the same period was 9.5. Compared with the expenditure of 1901 the expenditure in 1905 showed an increase of £62,283; relief of out-door poor, £18,638; cost of officials, £4,373; repairs and alterations to buildings, £7,072. During the last ten years the increase in the cost of maintaining workhouse inmates has risen steadily from 4s s>od per head per > week to 6s for provisions, clothing and "necessaries" alone. London journals complain because among the "necessaries" are ten at 2s 8d a pound, toilet soap at a tablet, cocoa at Is 9d a pound, mixed biscuits' at Bd, pickles at 9d a pint jar, and potatoes at £4 a ton. The meat that goes INTO THE WORKHOUfciIS must be "prime English," the butter is the best procurable, and the bacon also. Even the tobacco and snuffs supplied are well-known and fairly expensive brands. The fare may not sound extravagant to New Zealanders, but it has had the effect of attracting thousands of paupers to Poplar.