PAUPERISM AS A RESULT OF FREE TRADE loi 



" The Express dispatched yesterday a number of tele- 

 grams to private engineers on the Government Hst, in 

 the hope of finding work for the discharged mechanics 

 and labourers. 



"The firms communicated with were among those in 

 the engineering branches mentioned by the Prime 

 Minister on Monday as enjoying especially good trade. 



" The replies were of a very significant character, and 

 form a strikingly unfavourable commentary on the Prime 

 Minister's statement. There is no work for additional 

 men; in fact, in most cases, men are being dismissed. 



"We print by way of contrast with the telegrams, a 

 striking dispatch from our New York correspondent, on 

 conditions in the American engineering trade. It is 

 stated that the unemployed British skilled workmen 

 could find plenty of work in the United States." 



NO WORK 



The message telegraphed to the firms in question was 

 in the following terms : 



" Could you find employment for one hundred skilled 

 workmen from Woolwich?" 



Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., the cele- 

 brated engineering firm, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, wired 

 back the following reply : 



" We regret the suggestion is at present impossible, as 

 we are obliged to pay off hands every week." 



Messrs Kynoch, of Birmingham, replied : 



" In reply to your telegram, we have to say that, in 

 consequence of Government action, there is more 

 scarcity of employment, and consequently more suffer- 



