REMSCHEID.
423
50 per cent, in the case of Roman Catholics. The taxation of certain groups of
small incomes is therefore as follows :—
Income Group.
£21 to £33 inclusive
£33 „ £45
£45 „ £52 10s. inclusive
£52 10s. to £60
£60 to £67 10s.
£67 10s. to £75
£75 to £82 10s.
£82 10s. to £90
£90 to £105 inclusive
State
Income Tax.
S. d.
6 0
9 0
12 0
16 0
1 1 0
1 6 0
1 11 0
Municipal
Super Tux.
s. d.
3 0
6 0
13 9i
0 8
7 7
16 9&
8 3&
19 9i
3 11 34
Church Tax.*
S. d.
11
1
1
9
I
3 7
4
6 3^
7 4
9 31,
Total.
i 2
£ s. d.
3 11
7 9&
1 7
12 44
3 2
17 7
3 15
4 13
5 11
* If Protestant households.
Useful work in the matter of housing has been accomplished by a “ Public
Utility ” Building Society, whose main purpose is to build houses and then sell
them to workpeople on easy terms. The houses so erected are usually for two
families, the two dwellings being sometimes side by side, with separate entrances,
or on two floors, with a common entrance. In the latter case the occupier of
the lower floor takes the whole house and lets so much of the upper floor as he
does not require. The houses are grouped in colonies ; they are all well built
and equipped, and each has a small garden. In some cases there is a small
workshop beneath the house. Rent is paid on the 1st of each month, but only
10 times a year ; no payments are made on the 1st of January and the 1st of
May, apparently because those dates follow close upon the Christmas and Easter
festivals. The rents are calculated at 5 per cent, on the capital outlay ; but
the aim is to sell the house, and the following method is adopted. The tenant
pays one-tenth of the capital outlay on taking up his tenancy, and also makes
an annual payment of 5 per cent, as above, and of 2 per cent, for sinking fund.
On the one-tenth and on all subsequent contributions of 2 per cent, the society
pays interest to the tenant at the rate of 3 per cent, per annum, and this amount
also goes towards the paying off of the price. When one-third has been paid
(i.e., in nine years) the house passes into the ownership of the tenant, subject to
a mortgage held by the society, on which he continues to pay as before until
the whole cost is discharged. Subletting is permitted by the society, subject to
certain restrictions, and tenants find that they can sublet at £3 15s. or £4 per
annum for each room.
The society has also some “ blocks ” with seven families on each staircase ;
the rents charged are £4 5s. per room per annum (inclusive of water). For each
staircase there is a cellar, in which each tenant has a separate portion, and there
are two small laundry rooms in each cellar ; there is also a small playing
ground for children.
Retail Pjiices.
Groceries and other Commodities.
A large amount of working-class trade is transacted with the “ Concord ”
Co-operative Society, which has over 4,000 members, and 10 shops ; the total
sales amounting in 1906-7 to above £52,000. It is noteworthy that the
prices charged by this society are somewhat higher than those charged by the
ordinary shopkeepers doing the same class of trade. There are also in
Remscheid branches of several “ multiple ” firms, one with six shops, and all
do a large popular trade. Open markets for the sale of farm produce,
vegetables, and fruit are held in the large square opposite the Town Hall.
Dr. Franz Ziegler, in his work " Wesen und Wert Kleinindustrieller Arbeit,
besonders der Bergischen Kleineisen-industrie, published in 1901, gives the
following list of the meals of the ordinary Remscheid workmen at that time :—
First breakfast : Coffee, sandwich composed of a slice of white bread and a
slice of black bread, and often warmed-up potatoes. Second breakfast : (taken
during the morning pause in the works) : Coffee, beer or “ Schnapps,” and
sandwich of bread alone, or bread with sausage. Dinner : Meat, bacon or
sausage or pulse with potatoes and vegetables. Afternoon meal : Coffee or beer,
and bread and butter, sometimes with a slice of meat or sausage. Supper :
Milk soup, roast or baked potatoes, or potato salad, or eggs.
