tend to reduce wage, and thus to deprive the
recipients of some part of the means of independence. The employer is
pressed by competition himself, and in return he presses for profit
through a reduced wage, if circumstances make it possible for the
workman to take it. And thus a few individuals may lower the wages of
a large class of poorly skilled or unskilled hands. In these
conditions unionism, even if it were likely to be advantageous, is not
feasible. Unionism can only create a coherent unit of workers where
there is a limited market and a definite saleable skill. Except for
the time, insufficient wage will not be remedied in the individual
case by supplementation in any form--doles, clothes, or other kinds of
relief; and in that case, too, the relief will probably produce
lessened energy after a short time, or in other words lessened ability
to live. An insufficient wage may be prevented by increasing the skill
of the worker, who will then have the advantage of a better series of
economic exchanges, but hardly otherwise. If the supplementation be
not immediate, but postponed, as in the case of old-age pensions, its
effect will be similar. To the extent of the prospective adventitious
gain the attraction to the friendly society and to mutual help and
saving will grow less. Necessity has been the inventor of these; and
where wage is small, a little that would otherwise be saved is quickly
spent if the necessity for saving it is removed. Only necessity
schools most men, especially the weak, to whom it makes most
difference ultimately, whether they are thrifty or whether or not they
save for the future in any way. (3) _The Standard of Well-being or
Comfort in Relation to Wage._--With an increase of income there has to
be an increase in the power to use income intelligently. Whatever is
not so used reacts on the family to its undoing. Constantly when the
wife can earn a few shillings a week, the husband will every week idle
for two or three days; so also if the husband finds that in a few days
he can earn enough to meet what he considers to be his requirements
for the week. In these circumstances the standard of well-being falls
below the standard of wage; the wage is in excess of the energy and
intelligence necessary to its economic use, and in these cases
ultimately pauperism often ensues. The family is demoralized. Thus,
with a view to the preventi