SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14984, 11 August 1919, Page 8

SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

UNEASINESS IN ENGLAND

Some interesting comments on social conditions m England were made by Dr. E. -Robertson, who, after threw years' service' abroad, recently returned to' Auckland.

Dr. Robertson said that without, question the general feeling of .all classes at Homo at the time of his leaving m June, was one of great uneasiness; an undefined dread of what the ftrlure might hold with regard to the difficulties of the readjustment of social and industrial conditions. This -was partioularly noticeable m the great in^us-j trial centres, where extremist doctrines' were preached, and Bolshevik influence wag more or less at work m the breeding of discontent and antagonism to the prevailing system. Another point mentioned was the great change m the pre-sent-day spirit of the workers, par T ticularly m regard to personal service.' Not only m domestic occupations, but m every other branch of service was this spirit of aversion shown, tn residential hotels where board could be obtained formerly for about £2 10s a week, the charge was now £4 10s, with very meagre board and the minimum of personal attention. With regard to domestic service, although undoubtedly it was most unpopular at present, the opinion was expressed that by bettering wages and conditions the position could be greatly improved. Just now, however, women were still reaping the benefit of high war pay. There was yet but little apparent distress through the cessation of war manufacturing activity. Women who had amassed expensive clothing and jewellery from their high wages were now m many instances pawning them. The Government unemployment _ allowance was not only warding off distress, but m many cases encqitfaged actual laziness. ; There had been an outcry about this allowance lately. When people took •to driving up m motor cars to receive their allowance, others said it was iflbout, time someone made enquiries. Although Londoners had undoubtedly suffered great privations during the war, the effect was not ( so noticeable m the appearance k>f the people as one might have Expected. "The rationing did away with a great de"al of overeating among the rich people," said Dr Robertson, "and ensured for many of the poor better and more regular ftfod supplies than ever they had had before. I think perhaps those who suffered as much or more than any were the sold } e T¥ ,K ive s with large families, whd ! were unable to $0 out and .work." Englaftd had "come: through a' terrible time of stress, concluded Dv: Robertson, and war' had' left her a heritage 'of' social problems and' industrial difficulties that were as yet' a very long Way from settlement. One of the greatest future sources of trouble, it seemed to him, was going to lie with, the lower middle classes, that vast/body of men' women with small incomes which 'it was impossible to increase arid whteh had been all too meagre, to .meet the greatly advanced • cost of all the commodities and necessaries of life. There was a growing spirit of discontent and';apprehension among these people,, and. sooner or, later this spirit was going io find expression.