BRITAIN'S WORKLESS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 54, 12 September 1928, Page 4

BRITAIN'S WORKLESS

SUGGESTED WAY OUT SALVATIONIST'S VIEWS (From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 27th July. "After spending £2,00,000 a , week over a period of seven years, wo are faced with an unemployment problom which, far from shrinking, daily assumes a more sinister menace in tho life of the nation." These aro Commissioner D. L. Lamb's words in an article in "John Bull." With his Salvation Army experience of migration extending over many years and with his personal knowledge of all the Dominions, lie still maintains that Britain could solve that riddle whenover she pleased, and do it at less than the present stupendous cost of the "dole." "Tho Dominions demand that all immigrants from this hopelessly' overcrowded country shall be of the best physique," says Commissioner Lamb, "and have both the ability and the will to make good. They are right. - "As a commencement I would capitalise the 'dole' and send our best and fittest workers to make their way in those lauds of a thousand opportunities, thus paving tho way for an enormously greater Empire trade. "Unmarried men who arc physically fit, and who have been ou the 'dole' or in receipt of Poor Law relief for three and often four years, have probably received or cost about £150 during that time. There is every prospect of their remaining on the 'dole' for a further throe'years! Thus it would bo infinitely better to pay the overseas passage of those men, given they a capital of, say, £.100, borne, entirely by the Home Government, and let them go out to assured and remunerative employment. Imagine the beneficial rosult on our present hopelessly over-taxed industries if 200,000 men could be placed abroad within twelve months! Yet there is nothing to prevent this, provided the situation is tackled firmly by clear-sighted men who have the courage of their convictions. "Why not liavo 200,000 wage-earners instead of 'dole' receivers, with a.prospect of another 200,000 to follow? LABOUR COLONIES. "Side by sido with this hugo oniigration Bcliemo, I am in favour of tlie foundation of labour colonies. Such colonies would be peopled by that last 'third,' the mental degenerates and work-shy, who would be cared for and taught to perform some useful form of labour. As they progressed in tlie scale of mental and manual efficiency, they would bo promoted to higher camps where a higher class of work would await them, "Thus gradually they_ would be taught that work is an essential in the schemo of life, while that small remainder of incurable mental degenerates would remain, as in the past, a standard chargo upon the community. "Annual visits to Canada over a period of twenty-four years and four journoys rouud the world, when facilities were afforded me of studying the prospects before tho British settler, havo convinced mo that groat and wide opportunities do exist. "As one powerful moans to that end tho Government must amend the Empire Settlement Act of 1022, so that adequate moans can be provided for the transplanting of British folk across the seas. "I do firmly bcliovc that then, and not till then, shall we sec signs of the arrival of that era of prosperity which has been so long doforred."