730 . REPORT— 1894. 



for board and lodging, one shilling being then allowed for pocket money. Thrift is 

 much encouraged. Full pay is allowed for two months, a trifle less the third 

 month, and less again the fourth. The effect of this rule disposes of ' shiftless 

 loafers,' and has been truly helpful to others. Help is allowed, if needed, sixteen 

 weeks, after which twelve months must elapse before freah application can be made. 

 Each man is urged to do his best to obtain permanent work. We aim at decen- 

 tralisation in finding places for men either at home or abroad. We believe in co- 

 operation which economises labour and intensifies results, and the sound, unique, 

 and valuable co-operation between the Poor Law and the Church Army has 

 abundantly justified the Local Government Board in endorsing many annual 

 subscriptions of ratepayers' money to our funds. The Church Army has tried, 

 proved, and is still demonstrating an experiment with more than 2,000 people per 

 annum, which, whilst it ensures a genuinely helpful chance to make a good start 

 in life for at least 50 per cent, of that number, is at the same time a powerful 

 object-lesson to the Church and the nation. 



2. On the Unemployed. Bi/ Bolton Silart. 



On Prices, Wages, and the Standard of Vahie. 

 By Edward Atkinson. 



4. On the Report of the Labour Commission. By L. L. Price, M.A. 



The Labour Commission has been engaged during the last three years in an 

 inquiry of a very elaborate nature, and the question may naturally be asked. 

 What has been the outcome of so large an expenditure of time and money ? The 

 answer depends on the expectations that have been formed. It is difficult to define 

 the proper functions of a commission. Its temporary effect is undoubtedly the 

 postponement of legislation, but this result is probably fraught more often with 

 benefit than injurj'. A popular cry is frequently caught up and passed on with 

 imdiscriminating enthusiasm, and a commission brings to light the dangers and 

 difficulties of the schemes which are thus propagated. A small commission of 

 experts is the ideal form ; but a large commission, representative of various interests, 

 though it may lead to an inconclusive report, does secure a searching scrutiny of 

 plausible proposals by hostile critics. The agitation for an eight hours' day has 

 been thus treated by the Labour Commission, with the result of bringing int* 

 prominence the doubt attaching to the real meaning of the proposal and the 

 difficulties attending its application to practice ; and, in view of this uncertainty 

 and difficulty, the Commission could hardly arrive at any other conclusion than 

 that actually declared by the majority. They are content to present a summary 

 of opposing views, and to recommend minor reforms. The minority, looking for- 

 ward to the collectivist organisation of society, regard the legislative introduction 

 of an eight hours' day with approval as a step towards that organisation, and treat 

 from a similar standpoint the extension of the sphere of public employment. On 

 various minor reforms majority and minority are substantially agreed. The main 

 subject, however, of inquiry was the prevention of industrial disputes, and here the 

 Commission found that so much had been already accomplished by voluntary 

 experimental effort that little, if any, room was left for new suggestion. A mass 

 of valuable material has, however, been brought together, and certain conclusions 

 may be drawn from it. The first is that a number of experiments have been made 

 in the preservation of industrial peace. The second is that, in spite of a popular 

 impression to the contrary, and of some failures, those experiments have been 

 attended by a considerable measure of success. The new unionism is in this 

 connection less ominous than the ' demarcation disputes ' which have lately risen 



