Industrial Training and Technical Education. 23 



in an Industrial Institution might attend ; and they said no, 

 unless he chose to join a Trades Union. This was a class paid 

 for by the Municipality out of tne 6d tax on beer. 



It is because I am in sympathy with the better side of Trades 

 Unionism that I am ready to denounce the other as inimical to 

 the welfare of the masses and consequently to the best interests 

 of the State. One can not help a smile like the Roman 

 Augur's, at our vaunted " pax Britannica " abroad, knowing 

 that the law fails to protect its citizens in the exercise of their 

 right to earn their daily bread at home. 



As regards the third point, the government of the day, of 

 whichever party, will not move unless impelled by public 

 opinion ; it is for us, upon whom the pressure of maintaining 

 hopeless pauperism falls, to make ourselves heard on the 

 subject. And, fourthly, the educationalist pure and simple does 

 not concern himself about pauperism. He, naturally, wishes to 

 raise the general level of education, too often forgetful of the 

 fact that to live is a man's first object, and, afterwards, to raise 

 himself by education. 



What can be more absurd, were it not too sad, than the up- 

 bringing of the workhouse boy in an unreformed workhouse 

 school ; bred a pauper, taught within the workhouse walls, 

 surrounded by every evidence of his condition, trained to no 

 industry worthy of the name, he starts in life with only a little 

 elementary education. His earnings are of the smallest, he has 

 neither stamina nor training for earning a Hvehhood. He looks 

 upon the Union as his home, returns there at intervals, perhaps 

 marries a girl similarly reared, and his promising offspring 

 succeed him too often in the same career. I maintain we have, 

 and shall have a pauper population so long as we neglect to 

 teach the young some industry by which they may earn a 

 livelihood. 



Fortunately, trade depression and Industrial Exhibitions 

 have at last roused the country to the want of technical edu- 

 cation ; and politicians, who have allowed a golden opportunity 

 to slide, now lecture and harangue as if they had been friendly 

 to the movement all their lives. Happily the work has now 



