î 46 THE PROBLEM OF THE UNEMPLOYED
if it were possible to establish a system of labour colonies,
some engaged in rural occupations, others on co-operative
town work. Even two well-ordered colonies, one in the
town, another in the country, might effect an exchange
of surplus produce upon such terms that everything which
was produced could be consumed by the colonists. Although
it is highly improbable that two or more such
colonies of “ unemployed ” could form a wholly selfsufficient
group, it seems quite possible that they might
dispense with the necessity of an outside market for
their goods, while the need under which they would lie
of purchasing in the outside market certain articles for
their own use, would of course be perfectly innocuous.
The small experiments in Labour Colonies have never
fairly tested the possibilities of effective co-operation, for
the considerable deficit involved in their working is due
chiefly to the necessity of purchasing in the outside
market the bulk of the articles which they consume and
the materials and tools for their work, an expense which
might be largely reduced by the co-operation of a chain
of labour colonies organised with the express design of
mutual support for industrial life.
The dependence of England upon foreign countries for
a large proportion of the agricultural produce she consumes,
affords ample opportunities for the disposal of English
farm produce by a displacement of imports. Our imports
of agricultural produce for consumption amounted in 1902
to more than £168,000,000, of which grain and flour
exceeded £71,000,000, while the direct and indirect
products of the dairy, butter, cheese, bacon, ham, lard,
and milk, cost ¿£48,000,000, foreign eggs £"6,284 000,
meat and vegetables over £29,000,000. It seems possible
