The Memorandum by the Right Hon. Arthur Henderson, on behalf of the Trade Unions’ representatives, appended to the Report, dealt further with the question of unemployment. This Memorandum, while in no way disagreeing with the Joint Report which the Trade Union representatives had signed, stated (p. v.) that “the prevention of unemployment and provision against unemployment should have been one of the first thoughts of the Government as soon as the question of industrial reorganization began to be considered. The workers fully understood that steps were being taken to bring into immediate operation, upon the conclusion of hostilities, a permanent scheme both for the prevention of unemployment wherever possible, and for the maintenance of the unemployed where this could not be done.” Further, “we are of opinion that the unequal distribution of wealth which prior to the war kept the purchasing power of the majority of the wage-earners at a low level, constituted a primary cause of unemployment.” Then followed this finding (p. viii): “We are of opinion that a general increase in wages by improving the purchasing power of the workers would have a general and permanent effect in the direction of limiting continuous unemployment by bringing consumption up to something more like equilibrium with production.” They accordingly recommended (p. viii) first:—the appointment of a sub-commission to investigate (1) the whole problem of unemployment and especially under-consumption as a cause of unemployment; (2) the allocation of all Government contracts in such a way as to steady the volume of employment, and (3) the co-ordination of orders given by State Departments and local authorities; secondly, the establishment of a comprehensive scheme of unemployment provision extending to all workers on a non-contributory basis, providing for adequate maintenance of all workers unemployed, and for the making up of maintenance pay to workers under-employed. All were to receive a flat rate of benefit with a supplementary allowance for dependent children. The scheme was to be administered directly through the Trade Unions, or, where such were not available, through the Employment Exchanges, which were to be placed under joint committees equally representative of employers and Trade Unions. The Government were to pay to a Trade Union, providing an additional benefit out of its own funds, a subsidy equivalent to 50 per cent. of the amount expended by the Union on unemployment allowances. In addition special provision was recommended for the maintenance of widows with dependent children and for the endowment of mothers “to prevent their being forced into industry against the interest of society.” The Southport Resolution of 1919