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problematical, and I do not believe in it; but, admitting
it to be true, the good derivable would not justify the
sacrifice of thousands of lives of children through
starvation and disease in carrying it into effect; most
of the able-bodied parents have an aversion to become
paupers, and feel that, if relieved for a time from the
maintenance of their children, they could regain a
position to support them. Why should it not be
that children, the sick, the infirm, and the aged only
should receive relief under the poor laws? The result
would be great saving of life and money, and the virtual
extinction of able-bodied pauperism, without hardship or
injustice to any. It can be readily understood that the
great majority of these deaths occur among the children
of the poorest classes—a sufficient proof that the conditions
I have mentioned are the chief contributing
causes.
Water Supply.
The general supply of water by the East London
Company, daring the year, has favourably compared
with that of the other Metropolitan Companies. The
quantity supplied averaged about 30 gallons per head
daily of the population—including that used for
manufacturing and other purposes—this would leave
about 22 gallons a day for the consumption and use of
each individual of the population; but a vast proportion
of the water supplied io dwelling houses, especially of
the poor, is wasted or otherwise made unavailable by
inadequate and defective means of storage; but, by
orders of the Vestry, many improvements in this respect
have been effected during the year.
Many new water butts and cisterns have been provided
by landlords, by order of the Vestry, and when the