THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8235, 13 September 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1906.

Mr John Burns, M.P., is evidently approaching the unemployed problem in England with a strong determination to do something more than' fritter with it. The £200,000 whioh have been voted to assist in tiding the workless over the coming winter are not to be expended in experimental philanthropy, or in the exploiting of uncertain altruistic theories, but are to be applied solely in the direction of providing productive * work. One of the first steps Mr Burns took was to approach the directors of the London dock oom-

paiiies with a view to inducing them to abolish tho employment of casual labour as far as possible, and as a result an arrangement ia to be made by which regular staffs will be employed, and waiting at the dook gates for work will be praotioally done away with.. There are many proiluotive worka whioh looal authorities would underake if they were able, but at present they have no power to borrow the money to carry them out, and they do not feel justified iu using the money derived from rating for the purpose. Suoh oases will be met with grants from the new fund. With regard to time-expired soldiers and sailors, the Board has been working in connection with the Secretary of State for War and within the next few months a new system will be established. Under this provision will be made for filling posts in municipal, Government and other departments, where reliability, sobriety, good character and discipline are required, with discharged soldiers and sailors. Mr Burns finds the solution of many difficulties in emigration, and it is in this connection that farm colonies may be retained. He is decidedly opposed to bringing a number of men together, and those who are being trained for work in the colonies will probably be placed with their wives and families in separate cottages. &t the present time people are being driven from the country to the towns by tLe lack of cottages in rural districts. It is flxpeoted that a return of not more'vthan 2 per cent. can.be expected on the capital invested in new cottages for labourers, and consequently only a publio body can provide them. Grants will, (herefore, be made from the new fund foi this purpose, and also for acquiring plots of land. Work in connection with coast erosion, canals and reafforestation is also being planned. lb is probable that the money fur these purposes will be arranged by a revision and graduation of the income-tax.