Village Handicraft.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

Village Handicraft.

How are we to check the continual immigration from the rural into the urban dis. tricts ? The Rev. A. D. Rawnsley, writing in the new number of ',' Murray's Magazine," suggests an effective answer to the ciuestion : Promote village industries which shall supplement the ordinary ones already in existence. Try to prevent the rush into the cities by setting up a counter-attrac-tion. In Keswick, of which Mr Rawnsley discourses, they have made, it seems, a successful experiment in that direction. A band of earnest workers has started a small school of handwork in wood and metal, and the results, so far, have been most encouraging. Plenty of pupils have come forward (tnere are now forty - four); amateur teachers have ben reinforced by professionals ; much good work has been turned out; markets have been found for it; and now the school is self-supporting. Something of the same kind has been attempted at other places in Cumberland, and with the best effect. Men who were wont to spend their leisure and their money in the publichouse now go to the art school and turn out useful, beautiful, and remunerative work, some of which they produce during odd hours at home. Thus they add to their income and spend their time creditably, making their domestic circumstances happier, and helping indirectly to solve a national problem. What has been done at Keswick could be done all over the country, and the upshot would be the creation of a firmly-based artistic spirit among the people,