we have received courteous assistance, and we feel assured of their 
co-operation with the British Authorities in facilitating the much 
more extensive movements which we hope. all the Governments 
concerned will henceforth encoursasce. 
XV.—CREATION OF ARTIFICIAL EMPLOYMENT. 
134. We have described above ‘measures than can lead to a 
natural transfer of population to ordinary work either in this 
country or overseas. It is admittedly a gradual process, though it 
can be hastened as we have suggested. But it is the only process 
which can be made comprehensive or permanent in its effects. 
As, however, it is not spectacular, it is suggested in some quarters 
that there is an obligation on the State to intervene more directly, 
so as to increase the total volume of employment available, either 
by embarking on schemes of public works, financed mainly, if not 
wholly, by the Exchequer, or by administering a tonic, in the form 
of easy credit, to industrial development generally, and so accelerat- 
ing the pace at which the absorption of workpeople can proceed. 
Such suggestions are usually supported by the argument that there 
is a lot of work which needs to be done, and which, when done, 
will add to the amenities, or to the competitive efficiency of the 
country, and that there is lying idle a reserve of labour power which 
could be profitably used in the work. 
135. We have felt bound to have regard to the settled financial 
policy of the country, and we have, therefore, treated as outside 
our province ambitious financial proposals however ingenious, if, 
as is the case with most, they involve a departure from existing 
principles of tariff or currency and credit policy and would raise 
prolonged and acrimonious controversy. 
136. There is, however, another category of proposals not open, 
on the face of them, to this objection, and directed towards the 
development of internal resources on lines that have already been 
accepted. They range from such schemes as slum clearance, trunk 
road reconstruction, land drainage and reclamation, down to mere 
expedients for giving unemployed men something to do, such as 
levelling slag heaps. Every Department of State knows of such 
schemes, and we have not thought it necessary to call for evidence 
upon them from outside sources. 
137. Such proposals involve for the most part merely 
the creation by the State of a temporary, artificial and 
substitute employment market. And that they may, in certain 
cases, produce assets of lasting value, is no answer to this criticism, 
for there are many ways of increasing the capital value of the 
country’s resources, if money is available. If it is to be assumed 
that unlimited monev is to be used. who is to judge, in relation to