The Vagrancy Problem. / The Case for Measures of Restraint for Tramps, Loafers, and Unemployables: With a Study of Continental Detention Colonies and Labour Houses

by William Harbutt Dawson

Paid Work.

		Number of days of Work.		Value of Work.
(1) Outside the Labour House.
				£	s.
Agricultural work on the sewage farms during seven months of summer		128,526		2,570	10
Work for other municipal institutions		2,884¾		100	19
Work for officers of Municipal Orphanage and Shelter		90		3	3
(2) Inside the Labour House.
Sewing (women)		230		6	15
Washing		7,214		1,854	13
Wood-cutting		20,894		361	18
Other inside work		3,714		129	19
Farm work		1,382		48	17
Work for officers in the workshops		5,418		135	9
Work for outside employers		7,403		20	19
Oakum-picking		1,900		3	11
		179,655¾		5,236	13

Unpaid Work.

		Number of Days.
(1) Agricultural work on these wage farms, in five winter months (November to March)		102,968
(2) Work at the Municipal Shelter		610
(3) Artisans' work for the Labour House		34,238
(4) Gardeners' work for the Labour House		3,170
(5) Work in the kitchens		13,179
(6) Sempstresses		12,213
(7) Washing		14,428
(8) Bookbinding, writing and work of porters, stokers, etc.		44,859
(9)Cooking and other domestic work done at the sewage farms, etc.		25,544
		251,209

The work of the kinds classified under Nos. 3 to 9 was charged in the books at 58 pfennige (about 7d.) per day, representing an aggregate value of £4,281 5s., making the entire imputed earnings of the inmates £9,517 8s. This amount does not include the wages or bonus paid to the inmates, as stated below.

The work-day consists of ten hours, and the time-table for week days and for Sundays and festivals is as follows:—

Weekdays.

Rise	5.45	a.m.
First breakfast	6.0	"
Work	6.15	"	to	9.0	a.m.
Second breakfast	9.0	"	to	9.30	"
Work	9.30	"	to	12.0	noon
Dinner, and rest	12.0	noon	to	1.30	p.m.
Work	1.30	p.m.	to	5.0	"
Work	1.30	p.m.	to	5.0	"
Supper	5.0	"	to	5.30	"
Work	5.30	"	to	6.45	"
Rest	till bedtime.
Bedtime, and lights out	7.0 p.m.