The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-07-09 00:00:00

TRADE AND EMIGRATION.

It is said that you may prove anything from
statistics, and some hunionrous writer, aiming
rather to be smart than trite, has said that there
is nothing so deceptive as figures, except facts.
But in spite of such jocular remarks, reliable
conclusions may be drawn from three "returns'
which have just been issued—the Revenue re.
turns, the Board of Trade returns, and returns
relating to emigration. Briefly referring to the
first, it may be confidently stated that, consider
ing the reduction of taxation, the national reve-
nue is in a most healthy state. The Board of
Trade retnrns clearly show an increase of corn.
mem and trade and the increased consumption
of duty-paying articles, thus indicating the im-
proved position of the middle and the poorer
classes. With regard to thy emigration returns
I they also clearly show the improved position of
the working classes. The emigration from
Liverpool, the chief port of departure, for the
six months ending with June of the present
year was 91,137 persons, being a decrease of
8,849 as compared with the corresponding period
:of 1869. This proves that the inducements to
emigration have lessened, the chief cause of
which is undoubtedly owing to the revival of
industry in our own country—a revival that is
indisputable. In speaking thus, of course it
I must at once be admitted that there is still am-
ple reason why the working classes who find it
difficult to obtain employment in their own
country should seek it in distant lands. The
tide of emigration still flows, and it is the duty
of those who can influence it rather to quiciten
its flow than to retard it. The interdependent
facts—that trade has improved, that the tide of
, emigration continues, and that the tide has
somewhat slackened—are all encouraging It is
in a great measure owing to the extent to which
emigi ation has taken place during the dull and
cloudy three years after May, 1966, when com-
mercial failures came thick and threefold, that
the labour market has during the last year exhi-
bited a more healthy condition; and the conclu-
sion is obvious, that if emigration continues the
position of the werkiug classes left behind will
be improved.

It is quite possible that emigration may be
over done, but it is not at all probable. Our
working classes have no desire to emigrate for
the mere sake of quitting their native country ;
want of employment here is the leading, though
not the only inducement, and as employment
becomes easier of attainment at home the end.
gration tide will naturally slacken. There is no
necessity at present for efforts to lessen emigra-
tion, and in one respect, as we shall presently
see, our duty is rather to promote it. In a word,
the emigration movement seems on the whole
to be in a very healthy state. The exodus from
Liverpool during the past month of June is cer-
tainly remarkable.. There sailed under the reg-
ulations of the Emigration Act 28 ships to the
United States, 10 ships to Canada, and one ship
to Queensland, with a grand total of 18,717 emi-
grants. The vessels which tsok out emigrants
not under the regutations of the above Act were
five to the United States, one to Canada, one to
New South Wales, one to Victoria, one to New
Zealand, two to the West Indies, five to South
America, three to Africa, and one to the East
Indies; the total emigrants in all these ships,
however, being only 720; the combined total
being in round numbers 19,000 in one month.
But we must bear in mind that Jane is especially
favourable to Canada and the States, whither
the vast majority of emigrants proceed. A
comparison with the return for the six months'
emigration horn Liverpool wili show that the
June outflow has been considerably above tin:
average.

Turning to the operations of the British and
Colonial Emigration Fund, we fled that the ope-
ration of that agency is highly beneficial to the
working classes. The main principle is to help
those who will help themselves, though in many
cases the self-help is to a very small extent.
Up to the end of June the committee have sea!
to Canada rather mere than 4,500 persons, at r
cost of 9,000, or tt.; per head on an average.
Applications from " statute adults " are tufa
under consideration, and it is intended to good
out 30 of these, although the fonds of the as-
sociation are exhausted, the committee having
every confidence that the public! will (.111110 for-
ward with their aid. The operations of the
British and Colonial Emigration Fond are espe-
emily vaitt,thlc in this respect. that they enahlo
those to emigrate who otherwise could not g...
Now these happen to be the very persons on the
whole who ought to go. This argument, we are
aware, is also applicable to state aid to emigra-
tion, but tiro there are otio r and more import-
ant arguments against any such aid, the chief of
which is that it would involve the increased tax-
ation of the :Needy heavily-taxed British public.
But all argnments en the matter are valueless,
inasmuch as the question has been fully discus-
sed in the House of Commons, and the Govern.
moot distinctly refuses to sanction any such aid
beyond assisting discharged dockyard men and
their farnailiea which is quite a special and excep-
tional thing. The assistance offered by the
British and Colonial Emigration Fund, however,
is legitimate help, imposing no taxation on the
public, hnt depending only on their voluntary
contributions. We trust therefore that their
present appeal will be heartily responded to.
(In the whole both the state of trade and the
emigration movement are at present healthy.
The revival of trsde which, aft-'r a long season
of depression. commenced a few months ago,
continues and is likely to become more decid...l,
and elhiglation is acting as a steady outlet f
one surplus because unemployed or only par-
jolly employed oon'atine. if our tinoirneirn
'ant commurcial 1111 II will hot rsteaia Iron tel
and toveritdi specidatim., :cm if I. r wnkint.
classes witl bat euttit ate prudent and temperate
habits, there is nothing to prevent the comitey
profiting by the full tide of prosperity.

Gentlemen, desironi of having their Linens dressed
perfevti,o, shoul.l supply their leue.tri, ars with the
• tErsiviEtu STAecit," w 61,11 impalt,A Lfilliracy and
ft... Amity grabbing sake to Use souses of sight and
touch.