UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES 189 
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But let’s move to a stage larger than any of our commonwealths and learn if 
thers are doing what we avowedly have not done—reduced to a science the art 
of learning where, on a given date, we stand employmentwise. Perhaps we're 
00 prone to think that because we haven't evolved the problem’s answer no one 
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From Halifax to Vancouver sixty-four public employment offices stud the 
Dominion of Canada. In the year ending with March last, 556,754 men and 
¥omen entered these labor marts in search of work of myriad hues—in shop, 
>ffice, mine, and homes, on farms, railroads, and highways. About 418,306 found 
york there awaiting them—four out of every five. For the purpose of coor- 
linating the efforts of the various local offices and to effect the transfer of any kind 
of labor from districts where a labor surplus exists to where a dearth prevails, 
vight clearing houses have been established; while in the western reaches, where 
vorkers are in seasonal demand, temporary offices are each year established. 
More than 200,000—nearly one-half of the total number who were placed in 
*mployment—obtained positions outside of the centers in which the offices 
making the placements are located. Such mobility of labor is possible because. 
of railroad-fare concessions granted by certain of the Dominion’s railways. A 
lewspaper advertising manager, were he selling such a service, could with sin- 
terity say that it affords splendid coverage. It does—and yet: 
“We are often asked how many persons are unemployed in Canada. Our reply 
s that no machinery exists to provide us with sueh information.” 
CANADA'S EMPLOYMENT SERVICE 
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Such is the verdict of a gentleman who, above all others, is qualified to render 
me, fair and unappealab.e—Mr. R. A. Rigg, director of the Employment Service 
f Canada, at Ottawa. 
“Under existing circumstances no estimate can be formed that will be accepted 
as conslusively accurate. The inevitable tendency will be to allege that the num- 
er estimated is either absurdly high or low, according to the measure in which the 
nterests of critics may be affected. 
“I know of only two methods by which this question can be correctly answered. 
Either by a system of unemployment insurance covering all industries or by a com- 
sulsory registration of the unemployed under provisions as rigid as vital statistics 
‘egistration. I am not indorsing either plan but simply suggesting that either 
vould furnish the exact data concerning the state of unemployment.” 
‘In the absence of either system,” he continued, “our policy is to collect all the 
lata we can regarding both unemployment and employment from every authori- 
ative channel. We have three principal sources: 
““ More than 6,000 employers, representative of all industries with the exception 
of agriculture, fishing, and domestic service, who file monthly returns showing the 
umber of persons in their employ; more than 1,600 loeal branches of trade- 
inions, out of a total number of 2,600 in Canada, which report monthly their 
membership totals and the number of these members out of employment; and 
shirdly, the records of the Employment Service of Canada, giving the number of 
ibplications for employment, vacancies listed, and placements made. 
“Not all of them combined indicate the total number of persons who may be 
*mployed or unemployed. A study of them reveals the fact that they do furnish 
iseful barometric readings, indicating trends in employment and unemployment. 
Such study further shows that these data are mutually confirmatory as trend 
ndicators. Although the variations may differ in some degree, an examination 
Of the records covering the past few years shows that when the index figure of 
amployment returns rises, the index figure of unemployment returns from trade- 
ions lowers, and the percentage of vacancies for each 100 applicants registered 
An the offices of the Employment Service of Canada increases, and vice Versa. 
These statistics are all of a national character and are representative of all parts 
of Canada. Quite obviously, their significance is conditioned by such factors 
As natural increase in population, immigration and emigration.” 
Such, then, are the generally accepted and most trustworthy fields we have from 
¥hich to gardner figures that will aid us in learning where we are and whither we 
ire tending. 
But since statistics are made by men and therefore can rate no higher than the 
Dtelligence of those who compile them, are not men themselves the safer and more 
Alert guides for us to follow? Men such as collectors of department store and 
Ddustrial insurance debits, driver salesmen on milk and bread routes who day by 
lav circulate through the home sectors of a community; officials of industriai-