president's address — -SECTION GI. 463 



The figures for the four past years are : — 



Date. 



April 1906 to March 1907 



1907 „ 1908 



1908 „ 1909 



1909 „ 1910 

 June 1891 „ 1910 .. 77,679 110,900 



In the U.S.A. the Free PubHc Employment Offices in most of 

 the States have wi"estled with unemployment with success. Taking 

 this as an average State, the figures for the period 1890 (the date 

 of organisation of the five free public employment offices) there 

 has been a total of 487,883 applications for situations wanted, 

 455,368 applications for help wanted, and 309,242 positions 

 secured. Of applications for situations, 61-3 per cent, were filled; 

 and of applications for help, 67 '9 per cent, were filled. 



InOklahona for the 12 months ending June 30th, 1909, the 

 Bureau received applications for employment from 3,452 persons, 

 for 3,250 of whom positions were secured. During the same 

 period requests were received from employers for the help of 4,089 

 persons. 



Labour Bureaux have been established in New Zealand (1891), 

 Melbourne (June, 1892 ; abolished in May, 1893), New South 

 Wales (1892), and Queensland (1886) — in every instance by the 

 Government. In each case the bureau has been of exceptional 

 value in directing workless men to work, and the past four years 

 of prosperity has resulted in almost all applicants finding per- 

 manent work. 



Insurance Against Unemployment. — This has passed the ex- 

 perimental stage. Successful cover can be assured to unemploy- 

 ment arising from — 



Displacement by new invention. 



Temporary depression, as a result of war or other calamity, 



affecting a whole industry. 

 Temporary depression, resulting from bad times in trade. 

 Seasonal unemployment in certain trades. 

 Permanent under-employment of casual labourers. 



But the crux lies in " bad risks." Good workers object to pay for 

 the bad. At St. Gall in Switzerland human nature broke into the 

 whole scheme of compulsory insurance, and it was abandoned 

 after two years' trial. Why should the industrious man carry the 

 loafer on his back ? And if premiums are on a rising scale, 

 according to the wages received, the more a man deserved by his 

 own labour, the more he would be called on to pay towards keeping 

 his indolent brother in contented idleness. 



So that general and unconditioned insurance against unem- 

 ployment would break down morally as well as financially unless 

 by a huge system of benevolent socialism every nation provided 



