Some very wise and sensible things were recently said on
the problem of unemployment by Sir Hugh Bell. Speaking at the annual meeting of the York Savings Bank on Monday, he strongly condemned the dole system. If, he said, we had found employment for men Instead of giving doles we should have done a twofold good. The men would have produced something for others to consume, and they would not have learned lessons of idleness which were difficult to unlearn. Doles, whether Imperial or local, were hurtful to the com- munity. If the Government showed courage they would find that the nation would respond more readily than they expected. We agree, and we think that the late Government, when two years ago they saw unemployment coming near, were greatly remiss in not preparing definite schemes of the kind which, even if they do not pay economically, are yet so valuable that it is well worth while to make public assistance (which the nation is obliged to give in any case) the occasion of carrying them out. Sir Hugh Bell ended by a reference to the situation abroad and to the folly of ruining Germany.
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