HOW OUR PUBLIC MEN MISS THE WAY 107 



" That it is desirable to encourage British emigrants to proceed 

 to British Colonies rather than Foreign countries ; and that the 

 Imperial Government be requested to co-operate with any Colonies 

 desiring immigrants in assisting suitable persons to emigrate." 



And the Conference passed the resolution unanimously. 



Here, then, we have two notable examples of how statesmen 

 regard this matter. 



Firstly, we have the Leader of the Opposition encouraging 

 belief in the selfsame remedial measures that have persistently 

 failed the country for more than half a century ; and then we 

 find a Cabinet Minister suggesting the only remedy he can 

 think of — the suicidal course of emigration — as a solution of 

 the problem. 



Here is what a political economist has to say on the 

 subject. In the Daily Mail of September 8, 1908, we find 

 this : — 



UNEMPLOYMENT 



THK TRUTH ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ITS VICTIMS 



" Here is a huge question affecting the vitals of the nation — a 

 question forcing itself within the scope of practical politics and upon 

 the treatment of which must largely depend oar industrial efficiency 

 and political purity — and yet it is evident that few, if any, of our 

 statesmen, politicians, or reformers, possess any true conception of 

 the problem, or any intimate knowledge of the conditions and needs 

 of the victims. This lack of knowledge is dangerous, for it may 

 result in the application of some false and mischievous remedy. Let 

 the fallacies be cleared up and the facts stated." 



" It is not wild exaggeration, but a sane and sober statement of a 

 demonstrable fact to say that we starve, pauperise, exile, and drive to 

 suicide more willing workers than any other country." 



" This is a human as well as an economic problem, and unless we 

 recognise and admit the cardinal points involved it is useless to 

 attempt a solution. To lessen unemployment we need expansion of 

 our productive industries, and to mitigate the evils of unemployment 

 we need insurance." 



The article is too long to quote in extenso, but it is evident 

 that the writer feels his subject keenly, and is earnestly 

 desirous of removing this curse of unemployment, and all that 

 it involves, which has descended as a deadly blight upon the 

 British people. His Kemedy, however, would prove as 

 ineffectual as such remedies always have proved, because he 

 relies upon Productive Industries for hcl2), and tqjon them 

 alone. 



