THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—In this country there are employed and unemployed workers. Looking at conditions generally, there is a suffi- ciency of food, clothing, shelter, luxury and amusement earned and paid for, that is, the employed producers make enough for the wants of our whole population. Some, the unemployed, have their wants supplied by doles and charity, but nevertheless are kept alive, and even amused. A number of well paid people live well, so that the average living is quite good. I think, from my own observation, that the average living in this country is better than that of other countries, such as Germany, France and Italy.
I do not know the approximate numbers of our workers, but for our problem's sake let us call it seventeen millions, including both sexes, of which two millions are unemployed. I would then state our position to be as follows : We have fifteen million workers producing sufficient for the needs of seventeen millions and, of course, their non-working depen- dents. If we could rationalize all our works and businesses, doing away with redundant employees, so that thirteen million workers could produce quite as much as fifteen millions do now, our average living for the seventeen millions would be as good as before, but the number of unemployed would then be four millions.
Let our position have become approximately so, I think our national problem would be quite clear, and its solution would not be beyond the wit of man. I would like to get from you or your readers a clear statement of the problem, and clear ideas for its solution.—I am, Sir, &c., 11 Hillhead Street, Glasgow, W.2. WM. BROWN.
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