Problem of the Day.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12583, 21 January 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

Problem of the Day.

THE UNEMPLOYED' DIFFICULTY.

("Daily Chronicle.") As one passes through the ever restless streets of London and comes face to face with those who suffer want and destitution the cry goes up—How long sha!l this thing last? The present ideal is merely this—wl it is a reflection on our civilisation that in 1904 itr is so low and should have to be stated—that no man, woman or child should want food. On examination one finds that lack .of food is due to one of three causes, and it is of the essence of all reform that these three causes should be carefully remembered. (1) Some aTe unable to get food because they are. physically unfit to earn it.. In number these are fgw, and it would be no very heroic step for the people of this cotintry to say once for ail-that no man "who is so unfortunate as to be physically incapacitated from earning a. living should _ want food. This would merely be the, nationalisation of physical helplessness. There is no other solution of this part-of the question, and the sooner it is dealt with the better. Humanity insists that-, instead of parading his sores and helplessness in the streets of our cities, Lazarus should be putin an almshouse or an hospital. (2) Soihe are unable to get food because they, cannot find the work to do which they are capable of doing. These -.are absolutely genuine cases of distress which are to* be found at all times of the year but especially in the autumn and - winter when work becomes slack. These make the unemployed problem which is at the heart of our social difficulty. .. The only satisfactory method of dealing with these is to give them work. They want nothing .else." And it is important that they should get it, for, as a great employer of labour recently said"l believe that in consequence of intermittent employment there is a perceptible deterioration ia the physical-condition of the workpeople—a disposition to become indifferent, slovenly, and careless when working fhorf> time." It is essential that work should hefound for the second class, otherwise there ?>» the great danger and further evil that thev will fall into the third class. (3) Those who will not work, do not want to work, refuse work "when it is offered. They prefer to saunter through life picking up crumbs by the wayside. They are spongers on society,' and society mus f orofect itself with a firm hand. These violate the fundamental law of living. St. Paul passed verdict on them for all time when he said: "He that will not work, neither shall he'tatA' _— I The question i£, what machinery shall be Kit to work to deal with classes 2 and 3. Switzerland, which has so bodly faced problems of the "day, has- faced, this one, and, as a result, an acute observer dea'r»» that,- - "whereas, beggars used to_ abound, they have "been steadily decreasing in numbers np to the present time." - ; The reason is -.hat- special facilities- are offered to those Trorkmen travelling in J genuine search of employment, and . those tljat don't want it -.re forbidden :to beg, and put into a forced '•ibour institution. • :.- ~ 1

Let ps see What is ; done for the man out of work in the Swiss cantons. Mr H.' Pres-ton-Thomas, a local Government Board inspector, has made investigation into this matter, and he reports''.that; "if any ablebodied man is without means, is genuinely in search* of' Work, and 'his papers are in order, hs Trill, on application, he -supplied by the police with food trad lodging, and wil, if possib!e, have employment indicated to him. '.lf he cannot obtain" any he will be passed on to the next town/' There is on Inter-cantonal Union "ior the relief of poor travellers, .T?Mch extends to more than half tbearea and population of Switzerland." This began in a small way. but its work is so efficient thatite official character is recognised by giving it the right of free postage. Its specific object is to help workmen .who are. in seaych of work and who are -travelling for that purpose. To secure its help yon most have a traveller's re l ief book, which shows your occupation and what place you belong" to, and a certificate-from your employer stating the period of your employment. The canton of.Zurich, "for instance, is divided ioto "eleven, districts, each with a committee of administration. There are fifty-one ' relief offices, of which all'but ten are at. police stations. "In many of the* villages the lodeing provided is at iniw. In the year 19C2 these fifty-Sue relief offices dealt with * iightly average of 138 travellers." The assistance given consists of breakfast, dinner, supper, and lodging and c'otli- | iogf. -if necessary. All re'ief, including clothing, is noted in the traveller's book, i bit such relief is only given once during ! six months to the same traveller at the name station. "There are 32 numbered squares in the J-ook for the stamps of the relief stations "visited. Each station impresses its ntamp in succession, and the book thus constitutes a record of the places at which its owrer has been maintained at tbe exnense "f the rnion. Furnished with this book, ♦he workman may wander over most of Switzerland if in genuine: search of work. ~ntf will be suffirientlv fed with three mealy daily and. suitabV lodged oh application at anv of the stations which, the union has established."

This, gives a. man a chance to find work, and. the: endeavour is to'igive fhe help: which strengthens instead of 4he 'alma which debase.

" The union occupiM. a flUMi^official' position; and "its'funds axe :13eriver partly-from private and partly, from pub'ic scources. White it has a large body of voluntary, subscribers, including charitable societies air* rontributoTs. to conirfegational collections, it also receives considerable subsidies from the Cantonal Governments, as well as grants from the districts with those cooperation it works." ' While the Swiss Cantons help the genuine out-of-work, they are- severe on th« | mail who is what the Swiss happily call "work-shy." If a man refuses work when offered, 'he is sent to his own district ] , to be dealt with by its council, and-if the council (who. ate responsible for the mainj tenance of their indigent citizens) decide j that he is work-shy be may b* sent for a term varying from three months to two vears to a "forced labour institution, which is in effect a house of correction for persons guilty of the less serious kinds of offences. " The police are empowered to arrest begprrs without special warrant, and to bring them .before a competent who may commit them to. prison for a short term, or, in case of repeated offences and of r.efusal to work, may sentence them to from two to eix months' imprisonment in gaol, or six months to two years in a forced labour institution." Nearly every canton has its own forced labour institution. At Witzwyl there- is

one of 2000 acres. There is accommodation for 200 men, with a staff of forty- | fire officers. "Great stress is laid on the importance rf men not merelv supervising the men, b'jt faking an active Dart hi • the * "work so as to stimulate them bv example, -and also to pet acquainted with them." As sorts of wcrk is carried on. The food is good, and : educational facilities are. girsn. • '"The Finding principle, of the management s'= to 'improve the land - bv mnn and in*! 1 by the land.' Mr Otto Kelierhils. the director, says that he believes ' offences are the result nf a disinclination to worlc, and he h:is found that this has the best .chanre of being cored by such varied. agricultural operations as are carried rin at- Witzwvl. , When a man. sees the products. of his labour wbich'have grown up before his eyes :he is* Induced to exert himself, and is stimulated in ' a fashion which,-contrasts with the leaden monotony of such occupations as stone breaking and corn-grinding." These in brief are the principles which have enabled Switzerland to deal with her

out-of-works and work-shys, and when our local authorities adopt them, perhaps* tie voice of complaining will cease in our streets. -But the urgent question of the moment is -to give -work to those who want it. '■ . ' •