2 JANUARY 1915, Page 11

It is surprising to learn that there are only about

six hundred agricultural workers. In finding work for the refugees the aim has been to prevent the exploitation of a possible source of cheap labour. The assistance of the Labour Exchanges has been very disappointing, as up to December 21st they bad " placed " only six hundred and seven persons. The suggestion that employment by means of the Exchanges should be made compulsory will, we trust, be rejected by the Committee. Extremely interesting attempts are being made to establish peculiar Belgian industries here. It would be a pleasant memory of the Great War indeed if the Belgians taught us something of their intensive farming, lace-making, and so forth, just as Flemings and Huguenots taught us other things in former days.