Those children who were of school age in these three families were fed once a day for five days a week during term-time. None of the children were earning. The three women were extremely clean, and, as far as their wretched means would allow, were good managers. It is impossible to lay out to advantage money which comes in spasmodically and belated, so that some urgent need must be attended to with each penny as it is earned. After a certain point of starvation food must come first, though before that point is reached it is extraordinary how often rent seems to be made a first charge on wages.
Mr. V. worked for a relative who was in business in a very small way. For driving a little one-horse cart his usual wage was only 18s., and when the business fell off Mr. V. found himself getting three days a week instead of six. Later on he got half days and odd days, which only produced a few shillings all told. He tried on off days to get odd jobs of any sort. Four children had been born, of whom two were living.
January 12, 1910, to January 19, he earned 8s. 2½d.
| s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (one room at a weekly rental of 3s. 9d.) | 2 | 9 |
| Coal | 1 | 4 |
| Wood | 0 | 1 |
| Lamp oil | 0 | 3 |
| Soap, soda | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | 7 |
Leaving 3s. 7½d. for food, which is nearly 11d. a head per week, or 1½d. a day all round the family.
Between January 19 and 26 Mr. V. earned 4s. 8d.
| s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | 2 | 3 |
| Coal | 0 | 6 |
| Wood | 0 | 1 |
| Lamp oil | 0 | 1½ |
| Soap, soda | 0 | 1½ |
| 3 | 1 |
Leaving 1s. 7d. for food.