17 



of his meditations, certain general principles for tlie govern- 

 ment of his dominions, leaving it to his ministers and sub- 

 ordinates to carry them into practice. But, it maj be asked, 

 if political economy must never soil her hands with practical 

 work ; if she be a mere abstraction — an incorporeal essence — 

 instead of a creature of flesh and blood, bones and muscles ; of 

 what use can she be in the ordinary work of life, and why do 

 you plead so strongly for the study of the science as a part of 

 our higher education ? Let me answer this question by asking 

 another. What is the use of physiology, which is only a 

 systematised collection of facts and inferences relating to the 

 functions of the living body, which merely shows, in fact, how 

 the organs work ? Yet this purely theoretic knowledge is 

 the basis of much of the physician's practical skill, and his 

 constant guide in the treatment of disease. And just as 

 physiology is necessary to the physician, so political economy 

 is necessary to the publicist in order that his practice may be 

 founded upon correct principles. 



The intention of the article upon which this paper is 

 founded was to treat of a question of labour ; and I shall, 

 therefore, not be travelling far out of the way if I add a few 

 suggestions, with the view of obviating some of the difficulties 

 in regard to labour and pauperism, which are felt in this 

 colony. 



In order to transfer the unemployed from the two principal 

 towns into the country, where there would be a constant 

 demand for their labour, I would propose the following plan. 

 A labour office to be established in connection with the 

 arrangements for dispensing State Relief, in Hobart Town, 

 and another in Launceston. Any person in those towns in 

 want of work should go to the Labour Office, and have his 

 name, age, qualifications, references, number of children, and 

 any other necessary particulars, registered. Printed forms 

 should be sent to, and be obtainable from, every head of 

 police, and every postmaster in the country districts, in which 

 should be entered the name and residence of any one who 

 might state his desire to procure labourers, the description 

 of labour required, and any other like particulars. If the 

 form were filled up by the police or postmaster, at the request 

 of the applicant, a small fee, not exceeding sixpence, might 

 be paid by him to the person performing the service for him. 

 The forms thus filled up should be sent, franked by the 

 Wardens, or by some one else authorised to do so, to the 

 nearest labour office. The next step would be to select and 

 forward suitable persons from among those registered, who are 

 not, or from those who are, receiving relief for themselves or 

 their families from the public funds. In the first case they might 



