It was stated in the Times of last Saturday that
there had been a marked decrease in the number of men and women styling themselves " unemployed " sine* the unemployment dole was discontinued on November 28th. The decrease was particularly noticeable in London and the South-East of England, in the Glasgow district, and in Birmingham. In London there was a drop of 3.000 in the first week. This is exactly what we expected. We were told that if the Government discontinued the dole before they had established a scheme of State insurance against unemployment there would be terrible distress, and probably an accentuation of labour unrest. Precisely the contrary has happened. When the means of demoralization —the influence that unfits men and women of a certain type for work because it convinces them that there is no necessity to work—was removed, the figures of unemployment instantly improved. The gain is great to the State, which cannot• afford superfluous doles, but it is even greater to those persons who were having their characters spoiled.
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