The second reading of the Labour Exchanges Bill was moved
in the Lords on Tuesday by Lord Hamilton of Dalzell, who dwelt on the desirability of having the machinery it sought to establish ready before the winter. In the ensuing debate a striking speech was made by the Bishop of Birmingham, who welcomed the Bill as a step in the right direction—as opposed to such futile remedies as relief' works—and as tending to decasualise labour. The area of casual labour was growing, and labour exchanges would effect little unless they were followed up by other remedies. In particular he urged : (1) the raising of the age of compulsory school attendance so as to put boys into a better path towards skilled and permanent labour; (2) the establishment of dete.n- tion colonies for the " work-shy " ; and (3) training colonies for those who were temporarily out of work because there was no work for them. The Bill having been cordially welcomed by Lord Salisbury and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Crewe expressed his satisfaction at its reception, and, without committing the Government to any specific proposals as regards boy labour, detention or training colonies, assured the House of their goodwill.
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