Prosperity and Unemployment

We have had recently, the great Liberal Press endeavouring to make political capital out of a so-called boom in trade. Let us accept their figures for it ; and also their statement that trade has been booming for the last fifty years. It should be interesting to the worker to know how he fares when trade booms. Although not disputing that the condition of the workers is more favourable when the capitalist extends his markets, it should be noticed in the table given below, how reactionary is that extension. It will be seen that in ten years trade with foreign Countries increased from 814 millions to 1,049, an increase of over two hundred millions. The estimated unemployed, who numbered 332,300 in 1899, rose to 1,320,000 in 1908. A ten year period of remarkable prosperity (judged by the trade returns and Income Tax reports). The capitalists’ leading statistician, Mr. Chiozza Money, gives the number of workers as one-third of the whole of the population. He also states that unemployment returns made by trade unions represent the unemployment ratio of the country. This statement he backs up on pages 109-110 of “Riches and Poverty.” Therefore it will be seen that the figures given below are not in the slightest degree exaggerated. They might, if given a little consideration by our fellow workers, serve to remove the false and futile hope instilled into them by our masters, that in the near future we shall have “more work.” The following table is based on figures given in the “Daily News Year Book.”

J. R. R.