[APPENDIX III.]
LABOUR COLONIES.[160]
The Report as to Labour Colonies may be summarised as follows:—
| Holland. | Belgium. |
1818. Société de Benéficence established Free Colonies (i.e., Fredericksoord, Willemsoord, and Willewminsoord). Population decreasing (1902, 1,460). Also Beggar Colonies, Wortel and Merxplas, handed over to Government in 1859.
In 1831 Holland and Belgium separated.
| Holland now possesses: | Belgium now possesses: |
| Veenhuizen for men: 3,000 to 4,000 inmates. Committed by magistrates, six months to three years. | Hoogstraeten, Wortel, "Maisons de Refuge," voluntary colonies. |
| Hoorn for women: Vagrant class. | Merxplas "Depôt de Mendicité": 5,110 inmates, 1905. |
| Agricultural and industrial. | |
| Net annual cost per head, £9. | |
| Average detention, 16 months. | |
| Earnings per day, 1d. to 3d. | |
| Vagrant class. |