Practicable Socialism, New SeriesBarnett, S. A. (Samuel Augustus)
Religion
Practicable Socialism, New Series
Barnett, S. A. (Samuel Augustus)
Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; Social problems; Working class
These recommendations, if adopted, might be expected to do much to
prevent many of the evils of casual labour and unemployment from falling
on future generations; but to meet existing needs the Commissioners
recommend emigration and industrial training in institutions, some close
to the homes of the workers, some in the country, some farm colonies
from which workers would be free to come and go, some detention colonies
in which they would be detained for more or less long periods.
There would thus be established, says the Majority Report, in every
county four organizations with the common object of maintaining or
restoring the workmen’s independence: (_a_) An organization for
insurance against unemployment, (_b_) a labour exchange, (_c_) a
voluntary aid committee, (_d_) an authority which will deal with
individuals, according to their needs, by emigration, by migration, or
by means of day training institutions, farm colonies and detention
colonies. The Minority would secure the same provision by means of one
organization in each county.
The workman who, being out of work or unfit for any work on the labour
register, or for whom no work is possible, would be referred to the
official who, by inquiry, would decide whether he should be trained,
mentally or physically, in some near institution, or whether he should
be sent to some special and more distant labour colony, his family
receiving sufficient money for their daily support. If, having had a
fair opportunity, he refused to work, or if he resumed the practice of
mendicity or vagrancy, he would, by a magistrate’s order, be committed
to a detention colony, where, again, he would be given the opportunity
during three or four years of gaining the power of self-support.
This in a few words represents the dealing practically recommended by
both Reports. It meets the test which the present system fails to meet.
The relief is in every case provided which need demands, and, as it is
accompanied by training, demoralization is prevented. At the same time,
as no relief is given without training, every one is stimulated, while
no one can have a sense of injustice. Even those committed to detention
colonies are so committed that they may have a chance of restoration.
The scheme, it will be observed, deals only with those mentally and
physically fit to earn their own living. Those not so fit must be
classed among the “unable,” and receive treatment which may be compared
with that recommended for the feeble-minded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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