LAND AND WATER 
THROUGH THE EYES 
OF A WOMAN 
Plans, and those Who plan them 
■> 
THE National Relief Fund continues to accumulate 
like the proverbial snowball, each day witnessing 
a further growth in the already large total. The 
arm-chair critic has never been more carping 
than during the course of the last ten weeks, 
and, needless to sav, the National Relief Fund has not escaped 
his attentions. There is no more difficult proceeding than 
the just administration of a charitable fund, and it must 
surely be allowed that the e.\ecutive committee of the one in 
question has made every effort to solve the problem. The 
ideal state of things is a central fund and its local distribution, 
and this has been recognised. Mr. Wedgwood Benn, as chair- 
man of the committee, has issued a statement making this 
abundantly plain. In each district a central register of 
information has been formed and agencies already in exist- 
ence asked to contribute to this end. Foremost amongst 
them are the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, the 
Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation, and the Soldiers' and 
Sailors' Help Society. Then there is the Government Com- 
mittee on the Prevention and Relief of Distress, which has 
been collecting information for some time past and is now 
ready with its report. Through these channels the fund is 
already being distributed and much needed relief being given. 
It is, however, very certain that some very deserving cases 
have not come to the notice of those in authority. The truth 
is that those administering the fund are face to face with the 
problem confronting all social workers. The shiftless poor 
are only too ready to claim all the relief they can secure, 
whilst others, brought to misfortune often through no fault 
of their own, are too proud to beg. A much-criticised letter 
has recently appeared in the Press eulogising the social 
conditions in Berhn. Only one of the points it made was 
worthy of attention, and that dealt with the house-to-house 
visitation carried out in the German capital. This is done 
through the medium of a corps of German girls of good 
family, who make it their business to investigate every 
genuine case of distress. Germany has learnt and copied so 
much from us that we in our turn need not hesitate over the 
adoption of a useful hint from her. Some such organisation 
started over here, and worked tactfully and well, could not 
fail to be helpful in directing attention to cases that might 
otherwise be unavoidably overlooked. 
Women and the Fund 
Many reports have been circulated as to the practical 
working of this fund, some of which have been accurate and 
others very wide of the truth. Until quite recently many 
people believed that women were not eligible for help and 
that men alone were to benefit. This has been proved to be 
wrong upon the authority of Mr. Balfour, who makes a very 
sympathetic reference to the working woman and war con- 
ditions It must regretfully be allowed that the war has 
caused hundreds of women to lose their employment, and the 
difficulties of obtaining fresh work are very great. The 
demands of the new army for numbers of men is lessening the 
male ranks of the unemployed, but women have no such 
claim upon their services. Mr. Balfour says that in his 
opinion the women thrown out of work by the war have the 
strongest claim to sympathy, and so, he believes, think the 
other members of the executive committee. Pew will quarrel 
with this opinion. The working woman, indeed, would 
be in evil case at present if strenuous efforts were not being 
made on her behalf. It is calculated that already thirty-five 
thousand women are out of work in London alone. The 
Queen's Work for Women Fund is striking at the root of the 
matter, and has successfully provided some much needed 
employment. Many private individuals also are providing 
all the work they can, realising that the truest form of charity 
is that which receives as well as gives. The briefest survey 
of recent years shows that women come more prominentlv 
into the labour market with every day that passes. Times 
change, and we with them, but amongst the many points of 
difference between this present conflagration and the last 
which set Europe in a blaze is the position of women. Woman, 
as a class, is affected by the present war in a way which would 
not have been possible a hundred, fifty, or even fifteen years 
ago. She feels the rise and fall of trade prosperity directly 
instead of indirectly as heretofore, because in many instances 
she is personally concerned. Every intelligent scheme, there- 
fore, to cope with women's employment cieserves very warm 
approval. The National Union of Women Workers is fixing 
its attention upon the need for social work amongst the 
women and girls living in the neighbourhood of the many 
large camps now rapidly being formed. They suggest that 
a band of voluntary workers should be formed under the 
control of paid organisers. These organisers will have to be 
carefully selected, as the work will be difficult and responsible, 
and adequate salaries must be forthcoming. The object is so 
excellent, however, that these will probably be ensured and 
this important work maintained. 
A Belgian School !n London 
One of the most practical schemes for helping the Belgian 
refugees may be found at 4 Challoner Street, West Kensington. 
Here Miss Ruth Holland has started a school for the Belgian 
children now in this country. Some of these children have 
already attended various county council schools, but owing 
to their speaking a foreign tongue this has not been altogether 
successful. Miss Holland's school will be conducted pre- 
cisely as if it were in Belgium. One of the teachers speaks 
Flemish, but practically all the lessons will be given in French. 
Lessons in English are to be given as a foreign language 
subject, but otherwise English will be rarely spoken One 
hundred children will be sent as boarders to this school by 
the Belgian Legation, and it will be opened on the first of 
November, when all arrangements are to be in \\ orking order. 
The conduct of the school has been carefully planned, and it 
should prove a very happy venture. 
Erica. 
LOOKING WESTWARD 
THE subject of investments and profitable re-investment is one 
that is occupying the attention of a good many people at the 
present time, for, in the state in which all Europe is now, 
securities that have long been regarded as thoroughly safe and capable 
of paying a good rate of interest are no longer to be considered worth 
holding even ; some other field for enterprise must be sought, and the 
prospective re-investor naturally turns to a country where the war 
and its effects are not so likely to be felt as in the older European 
states. It is probable that European stocks will fall still more before 
they rise, and since investors are already looking westward for fresh 
enterprises it is also probable that the available stock of the western 
countries will rise steadily in value. Interest is naturally centred to 
a large extent on Canada, where agricultural and commercial prosperity 
is assured, capital earns a high rate of interest, and the effects of the 
war are less hkely to be felt than in most countries, since geographical 
position, combined with the absolute loyalty of the Dominion, render 
it more than probable that European disorganisation and cessation of 
industry will prove Canada's opportunity. 
But one requires the assistance of those thoroughly familiar with 
the country and its ways in selecting investments in Canada just as 
much as elsewhere. The Alberta Co-operative Development Agency, 
with headquarters at Craven House, Kingsway, has been established 
with a view to dealing with Canadian stock of all kinds. Mr. C. 
Copley Singleton, the managing director of the company, is a firm 
believer in personal acquaintance between investor and agent, and is 
willing to place his experience of things Canadian at the disposal of 
clients. It is not to be supposed that the agency is not established to 
work at a profit, but the method of business is such that the investor 
reaps benefit from consulting the agency, just as the agency also reaps 
a reward for its enterprise. The business has been established for the 
purpose of dealing in Canadian stocks, enabling members to secure 
investments without incurring heavy brokers' commissions. The 
managing director is a man of extensive commercial and general 
business experience, and may be ranked among experts on the subject 
of Canada and its possibilities. The organisation of the agency 
provides for the thorough investigation of any commercial, industrial, 
or agricultural undertaking. An interesting feature is that no invest- 
ment is recommended unless it is approved by the agency's Canadian 
representatives ; this provides investors with the assurance that it 
has the support of local men living on the .spot and knowing conditions. 
The prospective investor or re-investor is thus fully safeguarded, and 
it may be added that the safeguard is afforded by a sound business 
organisation in which clients and members can have full confidence. 
Any particulars in connection with the business will be gladly afforded 
on application at the address given above. 
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