THE BETTER WAY WITH THE UNEMPLOYED—. AN APPEAL.
Pre ring Eorros or ram "Brzorkros.'1
SIR,—Among the various suggestions for dealing with a family in distress through unemployment, it has been generally agreed that emigration, in suitable cases, is one of the most effective and adequate. From an Imperial point of view there is much to be urged in favour of the increase of British-born subjects in all suitable parts of the Empire, and it may be hoped that at the coming Colonial Conference something may be done by the various Governments there represented to encourage this increase. Meanwhile, the Emigration Sub. Committee of the Charity Organisation Society, acting through the various Committees of the Society all over London, and in co-operation with the East End Emigration Fund, has been doing its utmost to secure, through charitable aid, the emigra- tion of good families in danger of demoralisation in London from want of work. Most of those emigrated have been sent to Canada, and it speaks well for the methods of selection adopted that, in spite of the strict supervision now being
exercised by the Dominion Government over assisted emigra- tion, no single deportation of the Sub-Committee's emigrants has occurred during the last year.
That the money entrusted to them has been well spent may be evidenced by the following extracts from letters received. A man with wife and four children sent out in 1906 writes in January of this year, enclosing £2 in part payment of his passage money, and adds :-
" Also thank you very much for having done what you have towards getting me out to this country, and I certainly think it was the best thing that ever was done for me. I intend to send you £2 a year for a considerable time. I promised you last year that I would send you £2 this year, so you see I have kept my promise."
Another man sent in 1905 wrote the following year "Since I've been here I've got two cows and four pigs and an incubator this spring. I'm going into raising chickens on my own in spare time. I have bought 100 acres at five dollars per acre, and five years to pay it in. I do not think I have disgraced the Society for the ten months I've been here."
And in another letter received this year he says :-
"I have now 100 acres of land, a team of horses, three cows and three calves, wagon, sleighs, cutter, bnggio, and other things to
run the farm with I will now conclude, thanking you for the kindness you showed me, and hoping you will do to others as you did to me. P.S.—If I can do anything for you, command me and I will obey."
We may add a short extract from another interesting letter from an emigrant, who, after speaking of the progress of himself and his elder children, adds : "My children have had the greatest time of their lives since leaving Euston—they are as happy as the day is long." When it is remembered that these men, on application to the Society, were face to face with extreme want, their present happy independence is most encouraging ; and it is the more distressing that want of funds threatens to prevent the Emigration Sub-Committee from carrying on this successful personal work in the coming season. May we give an instance of a family approved by the Sub-Committee and fairly typical of those for whom we appeal for financial aid ? G a couple with two children, are anxious to join a brother-in-law on a farm in Canada. The man's occupation, in connection with horse traffic, was lost through no fault of his, and his experience with horses would be valuable in Canada, while here it is prac- tically useless. Seven pounds is promised, but £27 is needed. Experience has shown that men such as this, when character is satisfactory, make excellent emigrants. All the personal work necessary is available; money only is needed. The Sub- Committee have at present under consideration alarge number of such families. Every effort is made to obtain all possible help from relations and friends of the applicants, and any reasonable repayment from themselves. May we appeal to the well-known generosity of your readers to supply part of the balance needed P—We are, Sir, fix.,
FRANCIS Morns, Chairman, Emigration Sub-Committee of the Charity Organisation Society.
C. S. Loci',
Secretary, Charity Organisation Society. Denison House, Vauxhall Bridge _Road.
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