in darkest england and the way out-第33章
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mbers when wanted。 The cost of registration and organisation； which the men would gladly pay； need not certainly amount to more than a penny in the shilling。
All that is needed is to establish a trustworthy and disinterested centre round which the unemployed can group themselves； and which will form the nucleus of a great Co…operative Self…helping Association。 The advantages of such a Bureau are obvious。 But in this； also； I do not speak from theory。 I have behind me the experience of seven months of labour both in England and Australia。 In London we have a registration office in Upper Thames Street； where the unemployed come every morning in droves to register their names and to see whether they can obtain situations。 In Australia； I see； it was stated in the House of Assembly that our Officers had been instrumental in finding situations for no less than one hundred and thirty…two 〃Out…of…Works〃 in a few days。 Here； in London； we have succeeded in obtaining employment for a great number； although； of course； it is beyond our power to help all those who apply。 We have sent hay…makers down to the country and there is every reason to believe that when our Organisation is better known； and in more extended operation； we shall have a great labour exchange between town and country； so that when there is scarcity in one place and congestion in another； there will be information immediately sent； so that the surplus labour can be drafted into those districts where labour is wanted。 For instance； in the harvest seasons； with changeable weather； it is quite a common occurrence for the crops to be seriously damaged for want of labourers； while at the same time there will be thousands wandering about in the big towns and cities seeking work； but finding no one to hire them。 Extend this system all over the world； and make it not only applicable to the transfer of workers between the towns and the provinces； but between Country and Country； and it is impossible to exaggerate the enormous advantages which would result。 The officer in charge of our experimental Labour Bureau sends me the following notes as to what has already been done through the agency of the Upper Thames Street office：
SALVATION ARMY SOCIAL REFORM WING。
LABOR BUREAU。
Bureau opened June 16th； 1890。 The following are particulars of transactions up to September 26th； 1890：
Applications for employmentMen 。。 。。 2462 Women 。。 208 … 2670
Applications from Employers for Men 。。 128 Women 。。 59 … 187
Sent to WorkMen 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 301 Women 。。 。。 。。 。。 68 369
Permanent Situations 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 146
Temporary Employment； viz： Boardmen； Cleaners； &c。； &c 。。 。。 223
Sent to Workshop in Hanbury Street 。。 。。 165
SECTION 4。THE HOUSEHOLD SALVAGE BRIGADE。
It is obvious that the moment you begin to find work for the unemployed labour of the community； no matter what you do by way of the registration and bringing together of those who want work and those who want workers； there will still remain a vast residuum of unemployed； and it will be the duty of those who undertake to deal with the question to devise means for securing them employment。 Many things are possible when there is a directing intelligence at headquarters and discipline in the rank and file； which would be utterly impossible when everyone is left to go where he pleases； when ten men are running for one man's job； and when no one can be depended upon to be in the way at the time he is wanted。 When my Scheme is carried out； there will be in every populous centre a Captain of Industry； an Officer specially charged with the regimentation of unorganised labour； who would be continually on the alert； thinking how best to utilise the waste human material in his district。 It is contrary to all previous experience to suppose that the addition of so much trained intelligence will not operate beneficially in securing the disposal of a commodity which is at present a drug in the market。
Robertson； of Brighton； used frequently to remark that every truth was built up of two apparent contradictory propositions。 In the same way I may say that the solution of every social difficulty is to be found in the discovery of two corresponding difficulties。 It is like the puzzle maps of children。 When you are putting one together； you suddenly come upon some awkward piece that will not fit in anywhere； but you do not in disgust and despair break your piece into fragments or throw it away。 On the contrary； you keep it by you； knowing that before long you will discover a number of other pieces which it will be impossible to fit in until you fix your unmanageable； unshapely piece in the centre。 Now； in the work of piecing together the fragments which lie scattered around the base of our social system we must not despair because we have in the unorganised； untrained labourers that which seems hopelessly out of fit with everything around。 There must be something corresponding to it which is equally useless until he can be brought to bear upon it。 In other words； having got one difficulty in the case of the Out…of…Works； we must cast about to find another difficulty to pair off against it； and then out of two difficulties will arise the solution of the problem。
We shall not have far to seek before we discover in every town and in every country the corresponding element to our unemployed labourer。 We have waste labour on the one hand； we have waste commodities on the other。 About waste land I shall speak in the next chapter； I am concerned now solely with waste commodities。 Herein we have a means of immediately employing a large number of men under conditions which will enable us to permanently provide for many of those whose hard lot we are now considering。
I propose to establish in every large town what I may call 〃A Household Salvage Brigade；〃 a civil force of organised collectors； who will patrol the whole town as regularly as the policeman； who will have their appointed beats； and each of whom will been trusted with the task of collecting the waste of the houses in their circuit。 In small towns and villages this is already done； and it will be noticed that most of the suggestions which I have put forth in this book are based upon the central principle； which is that of restoring； to the over…grown； and； therefore； uninformed masses of population in our towns the same intelligence and co…operation as to the mutual wants of each and all； that prevails in your small town or village。 The latter is the manageable unit； because its dimensions and its needs have not out…grown the range of the individual intelligence and ability of those who dwell therein。 Our troubles in large towns arise chiefly from the fact that the massing of population has caused the physical bulk of Society to outgrow its intelligence。 It is as if a human being had suddenly developed fresh limbs which were not connected by any nervous system with the gray matter of his brain。 Such a thing is impossible in the human being； but； unfortunately； it is only too possible in human society。 In the human body no member can suffer without an instantaneous telegram being despatched； as it were； to the seat of intelligence； the foot or the finger cries out when it suffers； and the whole body suffers with it。 So； in a small community； every one； rich and poor； is more or less cognizant of the sufferings of the community。 In a large town； where people have ceased to be neighbourly； there is only a congested mass of population settled down on a certain small area without any human ties connecting them together。 Here； it is perfectly possible； and it frequently happens； that men actually die of starvation within a fe
