No doubt this was an extreme case, but, nevertheless, it is plain that, what with the great influx of a low class of navvies during the height of our public works, and the vicious and degenerate people, of whom so many were introduced at this time, the average of our population in point of quality was considerably deteriorated. My experience as Medical Officer of our largest asylum for so many years has convinced me that the ultimate cost of this degraded class of people to this country is enormous. For instance, here is an account of two families and their asylum history:--
+--------+-------------------------------+---------------+-------------+ | | | Cost per | | | | | Head. Rate, | | |Number. | Name. | £1 per Week | Total Cost. | +--------+-------------------------------+---------------+-------------+ | | | £ s. d.| £ s. d.| | | _Family of B._ | | | |I | A.B. (brothers) | 80 2 0 | | |II | C.B. | 274 4 0 | | |III | D.B. | 230 2 0 | | |IV | E.B. | 8 2 0 | | |V | F.B. | 8 2 0 | | | | |---------------+ 600 12 0 | | | _Family of C._ | | | |I | A.C., wife | 472 2 0 | | |II | B.C., husband of A.C. | 418 0 0 | | |III | D.C., daughter of A.C. | 834 2 0 | | | | and B.C. | | | |IV | E.C., " | 1,318 2 0 | | |V | F.C., illegitimate daughter | 169 8 0 | | | | of E.C. | | | |VI | G.C., husband of F.C., but no | 5 2 0 | | | | blood relation | | | | | |---------------+ 3,216 16 0 | | | | |-------------| | | | |£3,817 8 0 | +--------+-------------------------------+---------------+-------------+
Such people and their offspring are at this moment a fruitful source of those idle and useless persons who bring discredit on the cause of that portion of our people who cannot find employment. They fill our gaols, our hospitals, and our asylums, and, like a swarm of low parasitical organisms, they have, to an extent that is almost incredible, absorbed the outdoor relief that was meant for the self-supporting and struggling poor. I am sure that by far the largest proportion of the aid that has been so abundantly distributed by the various charitable agencies, especially in our large towns, has been spent in supporting a great many idle and vicious persons whose example has had the most pernicious effect in pauperizing the people. It should never be forgotten that the evil caused by the introduction of this class is never finished. The impaired health, low morality, and insanity descend to the offspring, and are a continual drain upon the community.