exchanges, and this fact has been used in the past and will be used
in the future by both parties in industry and by local interests as
a ground for a plea of enforced inability to assist in the work of
‘ransfer.
38. The moral to be drawn is, we think, that in many of
the districts concerned, the idea of a cyclical or transient depression
must now be recognised quite unflinchingly as no longer tenable.
The transfer of men to districts not enjoying immunity from un-
smployment but bearing a relatively lighter load, is the essential and
immediate aim of any transfer policy, and the search for openings
of employment must not begin and end with the heavy industries
or, indeed, with any special class or branch of industry, but must
extend to the length and breadth of the land.
V. THE BASIS OF A TRANSFERENCE POLICY.
39. The difficulties outlined in the foregoing paragraphs are
very real, but we refuse to take so pessimistic a view of the
adaptability of the workers of this country, of the elasticity of its
industry, or of the readiness of employers, workers, and the com-
munity at large to co-operate in the solution of a real human
problem when the full meaning is brought home to them. as to
believe that they are insuperable.
40. A transference policy must rest upon three factors : —
(a) The personal will to move of a man who, looking out
soberly at what is before him in his own area. is prepared
50 take some risks.
(b) The active help of employers and workers in all indus-
ries, and of all agencies and private persons who have it
within their power to bring to realisation this will to move,
by giving opportunities for employment, here or overseas.
(¢) Help where necessary by training and by grants towards
the cost of moving, to encourage the will to move.
It is from the working of these factors that help in overcoming
the difficulties referred to above must be expected.
41. The will to move must come first. It is clear that no State
policy can succeed without the existence of this will to move. The
State can only help those who are prepared to help themselves
There are signs that the will to move is already stirring and this
is hopeful. The availability of unemployment benefit and poor
relief, the reluctance of employers, workers and the State to
recognise the contraction in the labour requirements of the heavy
industries as more than a transitory problem; the existence of
anemployment elsewhere, and the unwillingness to take risks,
have all contributed during the past years to a tendency to wait in
Some vague hope that something will turn up to restore the local
trades. Now. however. some of these influences are ceasing to