BY R. M. JOHNSTON, F.L S. 153 



•cultural), and by the commercial and. professional classes. 

 These certainly may only increase according to their rigid 

 proportion ; and this must be determined by a previous 

 increase in the fundamental producing industries of the 

 particular place. 



The principal producing industries of the place may 

 increase irrespective of other local divisions (i.e., agricultural, 

 pastoral, and mining), as their products may find the neces- 

 sary consumer in foreign markets. Whatever influence, 

 therefore, may bar the progress of the dominating producing 

 industries of the place viust also bar occupations in all other 

 divisions of services. 



It is clear from what has been stated that applicants for a 

 given kind of employment may often fail, not because there 

 is no room for more labour, but because the direction in which, 

 the applicants have been trained, or in which they desire to 

 be employed, is out of harmony with the natural or local 

 proportions of that particular service necessary in the pro- 

 duction of general wants. 



From this cause arises much difficulty and distress. It 

 largely adds to the proportion of dependants, and consequently 

 the direct or indirect strain (i.e., support of friends, relatives, 

 private and public charities) upon the actual breadwinners 

 becomes oppressive. I do not here touch upon artificial aids 

 to local production in its effects upon the alteration or dis- 

 turbance of the relative proportions of the division of services 

 upon which such aid must have an immediate effect, further 

 than to remark, that if the aid by tariff duties or other means 

 enables the local division at once to cover the ground formerly 

 supplied by foreign industry, it can only do so either by 

 increasing the machinery or the relative proportion of numbers 

 employed locally in the division of service affected. The 

 advantage or disadvantage of adopting such a policy is here- 

 after discussed. It is sufficient for the present purpose to 

 show the possible effect it may exert upon local employment 

 alone. 



Causes of Existing Poverty and Misery. 

 It cannot be denied that in spite of the great accumulation 

 of wealth, and the increased command over the forces of 

 nature during the present century, that there is still to be found 

 much poverty and distress, and that much of it is due to the 

 unequal distribution of wealth ; and whether we may or may 

 not be able to point a remedy, it is utterly repugnant to the 

 best feelings of human nature to sink into the despair or 

 apathy of many who say, " Let alone ; whatever is is best or 

 worst, and cannot be helped." Whatever errors the Socialists 

 and Communists are chargeable with they must be credited 

 with warm aspirations for the amelioration and improvement 



