BLIND-ALLEY OCCUPATIONS.
[To rue EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.")
Sts,—May I suggest that one desirable means of combating the tendency for young persons of bolls sexes drifting into occupa- tions with no satisfactory future development would be the setting np of village industries? These, I submit, should be initiated by the County Councils, first steps to be local lecture.; upon a selected number of occupations that lend themselves readily to the purpose, such, for Instance, as basket- and mot- making, with immediate arrangements in village centres for the supply of materials and the disposal of the articles when ready for sale. I contend that in anticipation of the general adoption of a forty-eight-hour week the opportunity which such a procedure would give adults as well es juniors for useful and remunerative occupation would be gladly taken advantage of. It may not have been generally realized that the application of a forty-eight-hour week to continuous running industries will mean to shift workers their having- five hours en W.. every day, either one side or the other of 2 p.m., left upon their hands for some sort of occupation. I understand the deside- ratum in shortening hours to be change of occupation. Nature abhors a vacuum, and this is what may very easily be created unless it is intelligently anticipated.—I am, Sir, &v.,
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