AN IMPERIAL OBLIGATION.* As frontispiece to Mr. Mawson's book, An
Imperial Obligittott, is a very moving picture by Louis Raemsekers, the famous Dutch cartoonist. It represents ono of the now pathetically familiar figures in hospital blue suit with khaki greatcoat, one leg cut off to the knee, supported by crutches, gazing into the future " with eyes more troubled than when he looked over the stricken fields of France." In the hope of evolving some plan which may help to remove that troubled look, Mr. Mawson has drawn up the interesting and attractive scheme described in his book. Briefly, it is to found industrial villages for partially disabled mon. Mr. Mawson is of opinion that work on small-holdings and agriculture generally will appeal to but a proportion of the morn for whom provision must be made, and in any case his scheme is intended mainly for those who would find such employment uncongenial and unsuited to their diminished physical capabilities. These industrial villages— either new ones created or existing ones adapted—would be scat- tered up and down the country in order to meet the varying require- ments not only of those who will live in them but of the industries to bo established. As specimens of new industries to be started Mr. Mawson suggests pencil-making, toy-making, bulb-growing, and the manufacture of the many preparations dispensed by chemists. He points out, however, that in counties where certain industries
• An imperil °dilation. By Thomas IL Masson. Leaden: Oraat Richard.% Od. sell were already ,well established the now villages could be linked up with them—for example, the straw-plaiting and basket-making of Hertford and Essex. He dreams also of the -re-establishment of decayed trades, such as the 'Westmorland bobbin industry and the Cumberland ,penoil industry. We are glad -to see that Mr. Mawson Ikea little sympathy for proposals—picturesque but often un- practical—for villages of individualized handicrafts. " While we shall have some few men, and probably some of their womenfolk also, who will be best employed in producing the unique in say Venetian glass, beaten metal, carved wood, high-class toys and ornaments of all sorts, the majority will be better engaged in making by the thousand some article of commerce." We must leave readers to discover for themselves how Mr. Mawson, while admitting the factory -principle to a certain extent, proposes to avoid its evils ; nor have we space to describe his careful plans for the establishment of " hostels or fraternity homes for the most helpless, communal houses for the unmarried, conveniently grouped cottages for the married, and departments for the housing of widows and their children."
In regard to finance, Mr. Mawson states that, " while it would be necessary in the first instance to make a start on a subsidized or semi.philanthropic basis, when once established, each of the many Soldiers' Villages . . . may be made entirely self-supporting." " While the brunt of the financial requirements should quite rightly fall upon the Government, and thus directly upon us," ice considers that substantial help -might be expected from the wealthy City Companies and similar bodies and various existing philanthropic: funds, the money to be either a gift or invested in the form of debenture shares, with the property of the village as security. In addition there should be Co-partners' Shares " on the principle obtaining, say, at Port Sunlight."
Mr. Mawson writes with the ardour of the idealist, but his idealism does not lead him to overlook practical details and the difficulties and objections that may arise. One point, however, we may mention is that no British " Tommy " would ever be persuaded to live in communities labelled " Heroes' Villages," as Mr. Mawson in a moment of enthusiasm describes them. An Industrial Villages interim Committee, with offices at 32 Orchard Street, Oxford Street, has been formed with the object of bringing the proposals on to a practical working basis, and all profits from the sale of Mr. Mawson'e book will be devoted to this work.
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