LTO TIM EDITOR Or TUX " SP XCTA.TOR:1
Sin,—It is possible that you and some of your readers may be interested in a little incident of unemployment which came to my knowledge a short time ago. The incident in question is not very unusual, I dare say, but it is instructive, and I can vouch for the truth of it. About three weeks ago, when the unemployment agitation was at its height, I was paying a visit at a beautiful place in Perthshire. My hostess was laying out a new garden some three or four acres in extent, and required some temporary extra labour for the purpose, but the work called for no technical skill. She applied to the Central Bureau in Glasgow for seven labourers; their pay was to be 18s. a week, and the work was guaranteed for some weeks. After several days' delay she was informed that two men had been sent. After a further delay of some days, and a good deal of writing and telegraphing, two more men arrived. Of these four, two at once returned to Glasgow (having received return tickets), as they preferred unemployment there to employment in the country. Neither of these two had done "a band's turn" on the job. Of the first two, one, after three days' work, decided to give it up and return to Glasgow, but at the last moment was persuaded by his companion to remain . and give the work another trial, which he did for one more day and then left. That companion, who had once been- a gardener, was the only one of the four who apparently had the least intention of accepting a job when offered to him.—I am, Sir, &c., JOHN MURRAY. 50 Albemarle Street, W.
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