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3
POPULATION
The inhabitants of our Borough, in spite of the darkened streets and
the natural anxiety felt for the safety of friends and relatives fighting
abroad, are not in a depressed condition. This must be apparent to the
most casual observer. Ours is rather a careless working class population
with little time for being dull and miserable. It is certainly not spoilt by
luxury. If work be the remedy for all ills we ought to be a happy population.
Complaints have been made from time to time of the increased
dissolute habits of our people. This is true of a certain section, but the
general behaviour of the population is free from any such reproach. War
time always has been au opportunity for licence. It was so in the
Napoleonic and the Crimean wars, and will be so in this to a far greater
extent. We must all try to mitigate the sufferings of its victims, without
unnecessary condemnation.
Sad cases of distress in families have arisen through changed circumstances
due to the war. Every one must feel the increased cost of
living and taxation, which cannot be avoided.