SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS— E, F. 381 



depend upon the permanent differences of physical conditions and orienta- 

 tion in south Lancashire and upon isolation formerly imposed by barriers 

 of rivers, woodland and mosses. 



These distinctions took different forms in different periods. Firstly, 

 the extent of Roman, English and Norse settlement in the two areas depended 

 largely on their orientation, while the greater prosperity of the south-west 

 before the Industrial Revolution can be directly related to more favourable 

 geographical conditions. Later the differences became more comf)lex; 

 thus, the religious differences between the strongly Roman Catholic south- 

 west and the Protestant south-east and the economic divergence caused by 

 the growing industry and commerce in the south-east were dile partly to 

 pre-existing differences and partly to historical circumstances. In this 

 connection, moreover, the effects of personal factors and in particular the 

 influence of a small group of powerful families in south-west Lancashire 

 should not be overlooked. 



Finally, these differences culminated in the distinctive parts played by the 

 two areas in the civil strife of the seventeenth century and in the more 

 obvious divergence which resulted from the Industrial Revolution. 



Miss Alice Garnett. — Sunshine as a factor in the human geography of 

 Alpine valleys. 



SECTION F.— ECONOMIC SCIENCE AND 

 STATISTICS. 



Thursday, September 2. 



Discussion on labour transference (lo.o). 



Mr. H. Wolfe, C.B., C.B.E. — Labour transference and the Ministry of 

 Labour. (Read by Mr. H. L. Emmerson.) 



The movement of workpeople from one district to another is no new 

 thing, but whereas older movements were unregulated and doubtless to 

 some extent misdirected, the Industrial Transference Scheme attempts, 

 through the National Employment Exchange Service, to direct workpeople 

 from the depressed areas into the places where they are most required and 

 will have the best prospects. The depressed areas are given the first 

 chance of filling suitable vacancies in other districts which cannot be filled 

 locally and, further, the Ministry of Labour endeavours to anticipate 

 suitable openings in developing areas and to arrange for selected workpeople 

 from the depressed areas to come forward in readiness to fill them. The 

 Ministry assists married men to remove their homes to new areas. Many 

 men, inevitably, move on their own account, but these also may be assisted. 



Juveniles are also assisted to move from areas of heavy unemployment 

 and make a start in life elsewhere. The vacancies to which juveniles are 

 transferred are carefully selected and must offer prospects of permanent 

 and progressive employment. There are extensive arrangements for safe- 

 guarding the social and industrial welfare of juveniles transferred under 

 the Ministry's auspices ; lodgings are carefully supervised and hostels 



