| Range of Income. | 1903 | 1908 | ||
| Figures of "Riches and Poverty," 1905 edition, adjusted[13] by raising estimate of Income Tax payers from 1,000,000 to 1,050,000. | ||||
| Number of Persons. | Income. | Number of Persons. | Income. | |
| Million£ | Million£ | |||
| Persons with over £700 a year and their families | 1,250,000 | 570 | 1,400,000 | 634 |
| Persons with over £160, but not over £700, and their families | 4,000,000 | 260 | 4,100,000 | 275 |
| Persons with not more than £160 and their families | 37,250,000 | 880 | 39,000,000 | 935 |
| Totals | 42,500,000 | 1710 | 44,500,000 | 1844 |
The result is to show that, in the five years, the wealthy classes have increased their share of the national dividend, both actually and relatively. We shall later find this conclusion confirmed by a comparison of the respective growths of taxed incomes and wage rates.
The stationariness of wages is a fact which closely demands the attention of the nation.
[11] For a fuller explanation of these Schedules reference should be made to Chapter 21.
[12] See Chapter 21.
[13] The change in the proportions through the adjustment is insignificant and negligible, as will be seen by reference to the original estimate.
CHAPTER IV
THE ESTATES OF RICH AND POOR
OUR review of the extraordinary facts relating to what has been called with grim humour the "National" income, prepares us for an examination of the estates of rich and poor.
Legal distribution of the property of deceased persons can only be made upon payment of certain taxes, commonly called death duties, and legally known as the Estate, Legacy and Succession duties. The nature and extent of these duties I shall discuss in a later chapter. At this point I am only concerned with the facts which are brought to light in the collection of the chief death duty, the Estate duty, as since varied, of the great 1894 Budget[14] of the late Sir William Harcourt.