Class of Estate. |
1907-8 | 1908-9 | Average of 1904-5 to 1908-9 |
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| Number. | Value. Mill. £. |
Number. | Value. Mill. £. |
Number. | Value. Mill. £. |
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| A. Estates not Dutiable: | |||||||||
| Bankrupt Estates | 1,663 | — | 1,802 | — | 1,670 | — | |||
| Estates not exceeding £100 net | 16,475 | 0.9 | 15,875 | 0.9 | 15,956 | 0.9 | |||
| Total A | 18,138 | 0.9 | 17,677 | 0.9 | 17,626 | 0.9 | |||
| B. Estates Liable to Duty: Small Estates:— |
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| (1) Not exceeding £300 gross | 19,340 | 3.7 | 19,481 | 3.7 | 18,917 | 3.6 | |||
| (2) Between £300 and £500 gross | 9,736 | 3.9 | 9,640 | 3.8 | 9,288 | 3.7 | |||
| Net Capital Values:— | |||||||||
| Exceeding | £100 | but not over | £500 | 6,374 | 3.0 | 6,422 | 2.9 | 6,074 | 2.7 |
| " | 500 | " | 1,000 | 10,782 | 9.1 | 10,729 | 9.1 | 10,404 | 8.6 |
| " | 1,000 | " | 10,000 | 17,356 | 65.4 | 17,266 | 64.5 | 16,910 | 62.1 |
| " | 10,000 | " | 25,000 | 2,341 | 40.3 | 2,328 | 40.4 | 2,338 | 41.0 |
| " | 25,000 | " | 50,000 | 908 | 35.5 | 918 | 34.4 | 910 | 35.1 |
| " | 50,000 | " | 75,000 | 278 | 19.8 | 297 | 19.5 | 291 | 19.4 |
| " | 75,000 | " | 100,000 | 144 | 14.0 | 155 | 13.9 | 145 | 13.2 |
| " | 100,000 | " | 150,000 | 109 | 16.4 | 136 | 16.8 | 133 | 16.9 |
| " | 150,000 | " | 250,000 | 90 | 18.7 | 78 | 17.3 | 90 | 19.7 |
| " | 250,000 | " | 500,000 | 51 | 20.1 | 50 | 20.1 | 54 | 20.6 |
| " | 500,000 | " | 1,000,000 | 17 | 16.6 | 15 | 8.3 | 19 | 13.6 |
| " | 1,000,000 | " | 2,000,000 | 4 | 4.6 | 6 | 9.2 | ↑ | ↑ |
| " | 2,000,000 | " | 3,000,000 | 1 | 2.6 | 1 | 2.2 | 7 | 18.1 |
| " | 3,000,000 | 2 | 8.6 | 2 | 5.0 | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| Total B | 67,533 | 282.3 | 67,524 | 270.9 | 65,580 | 278.3 | |||
| Total Estates | 85,671 | 283.2 | 85,201 | 271.8 | 83,206 | 279.2 | |||
Before setting out particulars of the numbers and values of the estates revealed through the operation of the Estate Duty, it will be well to remind the reader of the number of deaths per annum in the United Kingdom. In the years 1899 to 1903, the figures were as follows:—
DEATHS IN UNITED KINGDOM
| Year. | Deaths. |
| 1904 | 707,000 |
| 1905 | 670,000 |
| 1906 | 681,000 |
| 1907 | 679,000 |
| 1908 | 677,000 |
| Average Deaths per annum 1904-1908 = 683,000. | |
We see that the mean number of deaths in the five years 1904-8 was just over 680,000 per annum.
We now inquire, as to these 680,000 persons who die in the United Kingdom in a year, how many leave property of sufficient value to be brought under the notice of the tax-gatherers, and what is the value of the property left by them.
These questions are answered in considerable detail by the table on pages 52 and 53, which shows, for each of the last five financial years of which we have record, the numbers and values of the estates reviewed.
It will be seen that, taking the average of these five years, we get the following summary facts:—
| Deaths per annum | 683,000 |
| Sworn Estates per annum, number | 83,206 |
| Estates of less value than £100 net each per annum | 17,626 |
| Estates exceeding £100 net each per annum | 65,580 |
| Net value of Dutiable Estates per annum | £278,300,000 |
The question now arises, what is the average value of the tiny estates which are not the subject of affidavits? What is the amount of property per head left by the poor people who form the great majority of the inhabitants of our rich country? There are the few humble sticks of furniture, and the small sums invested in savings banks, friendly societies, trade unions, building societies, etc., What are these worth?
The Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, Mr Stuart Sim, in his latest Report (No. 105 of 1909), p. 44, gives us the Summary of Registered Provident Societies and Thrift Institutions, which appears on page 56.
The total funds, £439,000,000, represent the savings of some millions of people, but the total number of "members," nearly 34,000,000, must not be taken to stand for so many individuals. There is, of course, much duplication in the membership, one individual being sometimes member of two, three, four, or more societies or clubs. A carpenter, earning 30s. a week, may be a member of his trade union, member of two friendly societies, have a few pounds in the Post Office Savings Bank, and be a depositor in a building society, thus figuring as "five members" in the list.
The list is not complete, for it does not cover the industrial insurance companies, which waste in costly management so large a part of the sums paid them, and unregistered friendly societies and slate clubs.