The Vice-Regal Commission enumerated the following classes of people as suited to detention in Labour Houses:—
(1) Rural vagrants over fifteen years of age.
(2) Urban loafers over fifteen years of age.
(3) Mothers of two or more illegitimate children except when nursing infants.
(4) All parents who are unfit to be entrusted with the charge of their children, except mothers nursing infants.
(5) Any able-bodied soldiers or ex-solders who are not self-supporting or are not supported by the Military Authorities.
(6) Any able-bodied adult persons who may, at the instance of the police or the local Poor Law Authority, be considered by a Court of Justice as proper cases, owing to their failure to support themselves.
(7) Destitute able-bodied adults who may voluntarily desire to be admitted as inmates; and
(8) Any destitute able-bodied adults who may be offered an order of admission to a Labour House by Poor Law Authorities or their officials in the prescribed manner, i.e., as a test of destitution.[70]
As to the character of the Labour Houses proposed, the Report of the Commission states:—