THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Suz,—The article in your issue of June 2nd on "The Problem of Unemployment" does not make it clear whether the costs of the schemes* on which the author suggests that work can be found for thousands of men " immediately " are to be borne wholly by the State or in part by the farmers and owners of fallen timber who are to use the men "enlisted."
If the latter, then the scheme may be dismissed as im- practicable, because farmers and landowners are already as highly staffed as they can afford to be, and they look for increased production, whether of timber or of other articles, to improved methods, appliances, and machinery, and not to more men. They would infallibly object that unskilled labour, whether in agriculture or forestry, has been proved so inefficient and needs so much expert Supervision that it is hardly worth having even at a gift.
Still, if it were really to be an absolute gift, they would
doubtless absorb as much of the enlisted labour in addition to their existing staff as their experts could efficiently supervise. Very many landowners all over the country have experience of" unemployed" labour partly paid by the State Forestry Commission through a system of grants in aid of planting, and perhaps some will give your readers the benefit of their experiences. But my own experience has been that much of the labour was worthless, though a proportion of the local "casual labour," qualified for employment under the system, did, after several seasons' work, become quite useful for the lighter forest employments. I would gladly employ such men additional to my regular staff if they cost me nothing', but the budget will not stand a larger labour bill than "the present one.
As regards "revenue in the form of fallen timber," it is to
be feared that closer examination of this source of wealth would prove disappointing. All fallen timber belongs to someone, who would sell or use it if he could ; but I fear that in many districts—and certainly in Scotland—the cost of " salving " is at present greater than the return. I lost four thousand trees in a gale eighteen months ago.
Examination of the budgets of farms or estates run on business lines shows that there is absolutely no margin for any expenditure not absolutely essential, and I believe your leaders of the cities would be astounded at the figures of receipts and expenditure of even the very best run estates. In my own case, the market returns prove that my produce gets quite as good prices as my neighbours', but the yearly accounts show that after payment of all outgoings, including rent, no interest has been received for the past two years on the 18,000 I have invested in stock, crop, and implements. The farm budget, equally with the estate one, could not stand a larger labour bill, though I could use more men if they cost me nothing. If, therefore, your correspondent's schemes are to be proceeded with, I am convinced that it can only be on the basis of the whole costs being. borne by the State.—..
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