The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-28 00:00:00

THE UNEMPLOYED SHIPWRIGHTR.

Should the shipwrights at Limehouse persist in their re-
fusel to accept the rate of wages now paid in Scotland and
the North of England, the consequence will, the Daily
Nara says, be very serious. The charity of London is not
inexhaustible. There are many claimants upon It. While
there is every disposition to help those who will help
themselves, or who cannot do so, there is ►n equally strong
aversion to help those who might help themselves and who
will not. In tho present state of the market it is impos-
sible that the shipbuilders of Lyndon should compete with
those of Glasgow and Sunderland if theyhave to pay higher
wages in addition to a higher price for materials. The
East of London shipwrights do not seem to consider that
the offer which is now made to them is intended to meet
a special emergency ; and that the alternative is
•Is. 6d. in wages or Is. 6d. or ls. in charity. They also
fail to observe that, with the advantages in regard to the
price of labour and of materials which the northern porta
possess, the tendency of the trade must be to migrate
thither from London. It will require the greatest caution
and management to keep it on the Thames. A time may
come, perhaps, when the market value of shipping will so
far rise to its old level as to make the additional cost of
labour a less appreciable element in the pries of vessels
than it now is ; and when owners will be disposed to pay
more for better workmanship. But this time must be
waited for. The present situation mustbe humoured. If
by an unaccommodating spirit the trade is allowed to
go elsewhere, it may be impossible to bring it beck again.
I The future of the shipbuilding trade of London not less
• than the mitigation of the present distress is involved in
the decision which the committee of workmen may
arrive at.

The Tones comments upon a report just issued of the
committee on out-relief appointed by the Board of
Guardians in Bethnal-green. The workhouse is crowded.
and out-door relief is given both very insufficiently and
very indiscriminately. The committee feel very much
the vexatious and revolting character of the labour
tests, such as breaking stones and oakum picking.
Other employments, such as wood-cutting, interfere with
the markets, and require also regular customers. The
general confusion and want of rules pervading the whole
system comes to a head in the management, and the com-
kmittee suggest arrangements with a view to make the
workhouse quieter, and propose associating the manage-
ment of the outdoor poor with the dispensary. The eons-
mittee ask for entire equalisation of rates in the metro-
polio, on the ground that it is impossible to give sufficient
relief without extorting front a large class of ratepayers
more than they can afford to ;ay. Another of their sug-
gestions is that the Commissioner of Works should
instruct the contractors under him to employ the able-
bodied poor of Bethnal-green at some improvements now
1 in progress at Victoria Park.

PATENT-OFTICII MUSBUX, SOUTH KiNSINOTON.—
Number of visitors far the week =dim Jan. 25, 2,011.
Total Dumber Wow the opening of the Mamma free daily
(12th May, 1658), 1,236.219.