Agricultural colonies; Poor -- Great Britain; Salvation Army; Unemployed -- Great Britain
We have in our remarks on the Over-Sea Colony referred to the general
concensus of opinion on the part of those who have studied the Social
Question as to Emigration being the only remedy for the overcrowded
population of this country, at the same time showing some of the
difficulties which lie in the way of the adoption of the remedy; the
dislike of the people to so great a change as is involved in going from
one country to another; the cost of their transfer, and their general
unfitness for an emigrant's life. These difficulties, as I think we
have seen, are fully met by the Over-Sea Colony Scheme. But, apart
from those who, driven by their abject poverty, will avail themselves
of our Scheme, there are multitudes of people all over the country who
would be likely to emigrate could they be assisted in so doing.
Those we propose to help in the following manner: --
1. By opening a Bureau in London, and appointing Officers whose
business it will be to acquire every kind of information as to
suitable countries, their adaptation to, and the openings they
present for different trades and callings, the possibility of
obtaining land and employment, the rates of remuneration, and the
like. These enquiries will include the cost of passage-money,
railway fares, outfit, together with every kind of information
required by an emigrant.
2. From this Bureau any one may obtain all necessary information.
3. Special terms will be arranged with steamships, railway companies,
and land agents, of which emigrants using the Bureau will have the
advantage.
4. Introductions will be supplied, as far as possible, to agents and
friends in the localities to which the emigrant may be proceeding.
5. Intending emigrants, desirous of saving money, can deposit it
through this Bureau in the Army Bank for that purpose.
6. It is expected that government contractors and other employers of
labour requiring Colonists of reliable character will apply to this
Bureau for such, offering favourable terms with respect to
passage-money, employment, and other advantages.
7. No emigrant will be sent out in response to any application from
abroad where the emigrant's expenses are defrayed, without
references as to character, industry, and fitness.
This Bureau, we think, will be especially useful to women and young
girls. There must be a large number of such in this country living in
semi-starvation, anyway, with very poor prospects, who would be very
welcome abroad, the expense of whose transfer governments, and masters
and mistresses alike would be very glad to defray, or assist in
defraying, if they could only be assured on both sides of the
beneficial character of the arrangements when made.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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