On Tuesday, Mr. Charles Booth gave some important evidence before
the Labour Commission in regard to dock- labour on the Thames. The great difficulty is the casual -character of the labour employed. He would, therefore, -establish a central authority representing all parts of the docks. Under this system the number of permanent men could be increased. At present there might be 2,000 men trying to get work at the Victoria Docks, when there was only work for 1,000; while at St. Katharine's it might be impossible to get enough men to do the work required. The central authority would see that the supply and the demand were properly
adjusted, and the men sent where they were wanted. "By a system of organisation 16,000 men could obtain fairly regular work. Five or six thousand casual dockers would be dispensed with. It might be difficult to say what would become of these, but if dock-labour was concentrated,there would be less temptation for men to become casual dockers." Mr. Booth does not speak without knowledge, and we expect that in his proposal is to be found the remedy for the present unsatisfactory condition of things at the docks, under which only 12,000 men get regular work, and the work of 4,000 men is "scrambled for" by some 10,000 casual dockers.
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