POPLAR. Labour NORTH ST. Establishment of Plans. Work done. At Poplar, for dealing with out-of-work cases this winter, a small Committee of working men has been formed under strict rules. As members of the Committee will thus in many instances know the men who apply, or be generally acquainted with their circumstances, it is hoped that they will be able to help, or refuse help, with more discrimination than would a Committee of benevolent outsiders. Owing probably in part to the recent public correspondence on the subject of Labour Registries, a Registry is to be opened at Greenwich; and the Wandsworth Committee write: 'It is suggested that some day the Registry at our office may form a nucleus for the establishment of a Free Registry, upon the lines laid down by the Association for that purpose, recently promoted in London and carried out at Egham and elsewhere.' The North St. Pancras Committee write: 'An attempt is being made to develop further the plan of the Employment Register (to which attention is called on page 2), and it is hoped that the new Register, commencing with the current financial year, will contain at a glance, without reference to the case-papers or correspondence, every information which an employer may require as to character and capacity. The weakest point of the scheme is that so few employers apply, and so few of those who do so report the result when persons who are believed to be suitable are sent to them.' Kensington, Paddington, and other Committees refer to their work in this department. THE EMIGRATION SUB-COMMITTEE. As in 1883 the Medical Sub-Committee, so last year an Emigration Sub-Committee was established by the generous help of an anonymous donor. Its object is to assist District Committees in dealing with out-of-work and other cases, by information and advice as to openings in the Colonies, by help in various details-e.g., taking passages, seeing emigrants off, &c., and by grants. Existing Emigration Societies could not, it was found, meet this want, though from some of them, especially the Self-Help and East End Emigration Societies, great assistance had been received. A Central Committee, working with a view to co-operation, might also, it was thought, introduce by degrees a greater unity of plan and effort into the work of emigration in London. It was determined, moreover, as assisted passages were not to be had, to deal with the subject tentatively, and to try to open out relations with one or two Colonies, either in connection with bonâ fide land and railway schemes, or through employers. Lieutenant Haigh, R. N., was appointed Secretary, and about August last the Sub-Committee began to send out emigrants. It was too late to send people to Canada, a colony, moreover, with which many agencies have connections already. But the establishment of the Western Australian Land Company gave the Sub-Committee an outlet for some of their emigrants. By this means thirteen families have been assisted at a cost of about £292. To a firm also of whose good faith they were well assured, and who had sugar plantations in Queensland, the Committee were able, through the kind agency of a gentleman in England, to send fourteen emigrants, young men, who, though not the agricultural labourers that the firm required, were nevertheless accepted on a contract of service for one year, with wages of £20 for that year, board and lodging, and a free passage. It was thought (and indeed it had been found in previous instances) that the Londoners would not keep such a contract when tempted by the offers of higher wages from persons who had incurred no expense in bringing them out. But news has come that though one attempted to break his contract, the remainder have remained faithful. The agricultural labourers, sent out at the same time, in whose selection the Society had no part, but whose integrity was supposed to be greater than that of the Londoners, have deserted their employers. This episode suggests some of the difficulties in the way of almost Difficulties. any large system of emigration. Judging from the past six months, however, there is not, it would seem, any lack of work in the Colonies for fairly capable men. The following is a statement showing the numbers sent and other particulars : Western Australia.-Six more families will probably sail February 2, at a cost of £91. This party has been approved both by the Emigration Committee and the Western Australian Land Company. Their departure is only a question of funds. with District Committees. With a few exceptions the emigrants have been in the first instance Arrangement approved by one of the District Committees, and by them recommended to the Sub-Committee, who have examined the case-papers, and whose Secretary has seen each applicant. The District Committees have, if possible, obtained a portion of the cost from the B ULHAM. emigrant and his relatives, and Emigration and other Societies have sometimes helped; the remainder has been made up by the SubCommittee. The District Committee is responsible for the outfit, but a Ladies' Association at Leamington has been of the greatest assistance in providing this in several instances. Besides the outfit, the District Committee has to obtain the money (£1 for each adult, and 5s. for each child in a family) which is paid to the emigrant on landing to defray any immediate expenses. Of this branch of work, to which several of the Reports refer, the Fulham Committee write : 'The number of emigration cases is a noteworthy feature of the past year's work. Aided by the Mansion House Fund and private donors, the Committee were enabled to emigrate (chiefly to West Australia) 19 families, representing 68 individuals. The facilities afforded by the recently established Central Emigration Department of the Society have been used to the fullest extent. The difficulties of transfer to the Colonies are naturally considerable, and the greatest care has to be taken to ensure the families a good reception, and work at the other end. Very gratifying letters from the emigrants have already been received. In this District there is no lack of suitable emigrants, and to many persons this form of meeting distress is the most hopeful of permanent good.' This is one of their cases, and a fair sample of the rest, though in almost all the emigrant was actually out of work when he left : He was 'A. B.-Platelayer, age 40, married, two children. originally a farm labourer, born and brought up in the country; he came to London to better his condition, and eventually became a guard on the Metropolitan Railway. In this position his health broke down, and he was advised to obtain work in a less confined atmosphere, so he became a platelayer on the District Railway, and this was his employment at the time of his application. He had a most excellent seven years' character. His wife had been in service five years in her last place, and she had the best recommendations from her former mistress. She was a good cook and laundress, and seemed in every way likely to be able to help her husband in getting on in a colony. He could not apparently receive any higher wages as a platelayer. He could not save what was required for the passage, although both he and his wife were total abstainers, so he applied to the Committee for a loan, and with the help of his relations contributed a portion of the cost. The remainder was found by the Committee, and he and his family were sent out to Western Australia by means of the assisted passages granted by the land company in August last. He obtained work at once at 7s. per day, and wrote to the Committee that he was in every way prosperous. He hoped shortly to be able to obtain a bit of land, and then he would very soon commence to repay the loan. This report has been drawn as a sketch of the Society's work in Conclusion. its endeavour to stay and prevent what, for want of a better word, is called pauperism. What was and is involved in any genuine attempt of this kind, is clearly foreshadowed in the extract from the writings of Edward Denison, quoted at page 2. To many who look on, Charity Organisation may seem only a series of adjustments; for no inquiry, inquiry to test desert; for a little dole or pittance, a big dole or pension; for parish pay, charitable relief; for irregularity and want of system, regulation and method; for easily misled individuals, somewhat irresponsible Committees; and after all, not any different results, but a kind of tidiness, or some such lesser virtue, instead of untidiness. If good be done, they say, it is a superficial healing of skindeep cuts. Either method would do equally well-the dry and more elaborate, or the more sentimental and simple. This report will show, it is hoped, that Charity Organisation is worthy of the best devotion of men and women; that it will tax and give scope to their best abilities; and that, though the Society does not profess to check pauperism by special schemes or large legal remedies, its members are touching the causes of it at numberless points, and by educating themselves and the public, are showing the function and proving the efficacy of that true charity which, if it begin at home, will best prevent distress, and when it passes from home, will best relieve it. CHAIRMANSHIP OF COUNCIL. The Council have to thank Mr. Albert Pell, their Chairman during the past year, for many services, and especially for acting as Chairman of the Special Committee on Exceptional Distress. Lord Stalbridge has kindly consented to act as Chairman of Council for the year ensuing. AUDITORS. The Council also have to thank Mr. A. R. Barrett and Mr. T. J. · Bradley, of Her Majesty's Exchequer and Audit Office, for again auditing their accounts. |