Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-17
will leave the drudgery and burden bearing

to them
How about Australian I asked
Australia is in extraordinary position
as far emigration Is concerned. Her
statesmen feel that she must do something
to secure white population. yet there is
general hesitation on the subject.
Feeling as to Australia.
Rightly or wrongly, the feeling is abroad
in England that Australia does not want
emgrants. Through the energy of her emf
grafton commissioner Canada has advertis-
ed her resources we'll and diverted a large
amount of the natural flow of emigrants
from this country to the dominion. The
distance from the old country, although not
serious barrier. still initiates against Aus
tralia because of the cost as well the
length Of the voyage. The best lands in Aus
tralia are not opened for settlement, and
until the colonies-open them poor men Will
not have much chance. The labor unions,
which are almost all powerful In Australia,
have created feeling that emigrants are
not wanted there. The consequence of their
influence has been to deter people from try
ing their luck in Australasia and to hamper
the investment Of capital in new enter
prises.''
What are your relations to the govern
ment?'
They are most cordial. No matter what
party Is in power, the leaders are consider
ate and the opposition also, but what is
more helpful to is the fact that the per-
manent officials of the government have
learned to appreciate our work. Still there
are many things that might be improved.
We move slowly in this old country
rs there any other organized effort to re-
lieve the congestion of the population or
find labor for the unemployed?" -
Efforts of the Scotch Church.
'"The established church of Scotland has
recently done good deal to improve the
condition of the unemployed 1t has fol-
lowed our lines closely and has made no
secret Of that fact. At one time think 1t
would have desired to undertake the
whole work for Them but the general did
not see his way clear to accept that re-
sponsibility. However, their first and best
workers have been trained and supplied by
u.s. In England it is difficult to speak of
the church as whole. Here and there we
have bishops and Wears who are active and
successful social workers, but as whole
the church has no determined active policy
on the question. The government has re-
Gently sanctioned some attempts to deal
with the problem of passing the unemploy ed
workmen act which provides for the estab-
lishment of employment bureaus, the grant
ing of money out of the local rates to aid
in emigration and in other respects. 1t has
embarked upon course that Is bound to
procured legislation to improve the housing
Of the poor, but do not know that it has
been put to very much use 1t is hampered
with so many restrictions.
ing has increased also, but the standard Of
living has been very much improved and
men are not prepared to accept the condi-
ton that prevailed twenty or even ten years
ago."
The Unemployed.
"How many unemployed laborers have
you in England today?" 1 asked
ut is difficult to ascertain the exact num-
Der, but should estimate roughly the num-
Der of able bodied workmen out of employ
ment at about 10000. In addition to these
there are in the country $4,000 or more I'M
employable, because they more or less
not able-bodied Some Of them are just on
the border of being classed with the able
bodied, while others are fit subjects for
charity Or legal detention in insane asylums
or institutions for the feeble minded The
number Of unemployed in London of recent
years would be larger than the proportion
in the country outside, because of the slack
ness in the building trades, which affects
London more than any other part of Eng
land.
There is danger in the anxiety to send
the unemployed portion of the population
to colonies, where there is plenty of en-
ployment." saidSCol. Lamb in conclusion.
Persons and families are often accepted
who have little fitness, either morally or
physically. 1t should always be borne in
mind that while work may be abundant and
far better paid. in Canada. Australia,
the United States, the standard of what
constitutes a days labor and the quality Of
the work is much higher than in England.
and II a man cannot work up to those
standards he had better remain at home.
Nor will the colonies tolerate the emigra-
ton of the wrong kind of people. The Sal
walton Army takes the greatest care in Sc
lecting emigrants, and never sends people
in order to get rid of them. In the nature
of things it is free from the temptations
which beset other emigration agencies. be-
cause it has responsible representatives
wherever 1t sends emigrants, and is not
likely to transfer the social problem or ship
the unfit portion of the population from one
part of the world to another"