TRADE- UXIOXS 59. 



I have heard many members state the difficulty they have ex- 

 perienced in finding out the workshops whenever they have ventured 

 into a locality with which they were not well acquainted. This is not 

 to be wondered at in London, where many of the shops are situated 

 in some court or alley, so that a man might pass by every day for a 

 month without once dreaming that a joiner's shop was to be found 

 ill the immediate vicinity. And I am quite sure that many of us 

 who reside in the north of London would be nearly as much at a loss 

 in looking for a job in Lambeth or the Borough, as we should be in 

 Birmingham or Manchester. This state of things is not, I believe, 

 confined to the metropolis ; it prevails also in other districts. 



To supply the want which I consider at present exists, I would 

 suggest that schedules be issued from the General Office, on which 

 eich Branch could forward a return of the names and addresses of 

 all the building firms in the vicinity. A committee might be ap- 

 pointed by each Branch for the purpose of filling up the schedules, 

 and the result of their labours might be read over to the Branch for 

 final approval, and signed by the officers, before it is forwarded to 

 the General Office. From these returns a trade Directory might be 

 compiled, and issued to the Branches ; a copy might be kept with 

 the vacant book of each Branch for the use of any member who 

 might require it, whilst those who might desire a copy for private 

 use could be supplied at a reasonable price. The returns could be 

 revised and a new edition issued whenever such a course might be 

 deemed necessary. 



If this plan were adopted, I believe much time and trouble might 

 be saved which is now needlessly expended, as a member when sign- 

 ing the vacant book might copy on a slip of paper the addresses of 

 any firms he might wish to visit. A member seeking employment 

 in a strange town would be specially benefited by such an arrange- 

 ment. 



The policy of our society, as I understand it, is to endeavour to 

 remove as much as possible of our surplus labour into those districts 

 where trade is brisk, and where it may find profitable employment. 

 With this view we publish a monthly return of the state of trade in 

 each town where a Branch of our Society exists. Would it not also 

 be a step in the right direction if we published a Directory which 

 would furnish valuable information to members on travel, and to 

 many others in want of employment ? 



The adoption of this suggestion would involve very little expense, 

 and might easily be carried into effect by the Executive Council, 

 should it meet with the approval of the members. I therefore take 



