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A study of the rules (vide page ii.) will show that the
possible abuses outlined at the beginning of this report were
obviated, the circumstances of each case being carefully gone
into, the home visited, and the joint earnings of the family
ascertained, so that only those actually in need and whose
resources were insufficient to meet their wants were employed
on relief work.
By a study of Blue Books and other records it will be
seen beyond doubt that all previous schemes have failed and
failed disastrously, chiefly owing to their attempts to deal with
these two divisions as one large class. Any effort which is to
succeed should deal with the unemployed sectionally.
Herein lies the inherent difficulty—a difficulty hitherto
never overcome.
In concluding their report your Committee venture to
state their opinion that, in attempting to deal with the
question of the unemployed it must always be borne in mind
that there are two distinct classes which will have to be
provided for, viz.: —
Division 1.—Those who are thrown out of employment
by the bad state of trade, and
Division 2.—Those who are more or less permanently
unemployed.
It does not, however, seem altogether impossible to
surmount the obstacles in the way. With a system such as
has been adopted in Camberwell, further strengthened and
developed, it should be comparatively easy to clearly define the
two divisions above-mentioned. This having been done, it
might be left to the Borough Council to deal entirely with
Division I. and to the Board of Guardians to take charge of
Division II.
Assuming this system to be adopted, the Borough
Council would be left with the task of providing work for a
certain number of men, over and above their ordinary staff of
labourers, during a limited period annually, work which should
enable the men to earn sufficient to keep themselves and their
families from becoming a charge upon the poor law.
It is not for this Committee to say how this end is to
be accomplished. While fully recognising and thoroughly
understanding the nature of the many difficulties which lie in