5 ‘The landless man to the manless land’
-
John Field
Abstract
Many in the labour colony movement saw an obvious outlet for unemployed Britons in Empire settlement. Before 1918, a number of voluntary labour colonies co-operated with governments in Australia, Canada and other ‘settler societies’ to develop training for emigration. Race was an important part of the equation, with British movements and Dominions governments agreeing on the need for white settlers. After 1918, the British government took a more active role, developing training centres for unemployed emigrants under the Empire Settlement Act. While men were given heavy manual work to prepare them for farming careers, women were trained in domestic skills. While this process was scaled back after the 1929 crisis, British authorities always hoped it would resume.
Abstract
Many in the labour colony movement saw an obvious outlet for unemployed Britons in Empire settlement. Before 1918, a number of voluntary labour colonies co-operated with governments in Australia, Canada and other ‘settler societies’ to develop training for emigration. Race was an important part of the equation, with British movements and Dominions governments agreeing on the need for white settlers. After 1918, the British government took a more active role, developing training centres for unemployed emigrants under the Empire Settlement Act. While men were given heavy manual work to prepare them for farming careers, women were trained in domestic skills. While this process was scaled back after the 1929 crisis, British authorities always hoped it would resume.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Abbreviations ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- Introduction 1
- 1 Colonising the land 9
- 2 ‘We work amongst the lowest stratum of life’ 32
- 3 Labour colonies and public health 57
- 4 Alternative living in the English countryside 77
- 5 ‘The landless man to the manless land’ 99
- 6 Transference and the Labour government, 1929–31 125
- 7 Incremental growth 148
- 8 ‘Light green uniforms, white aprons and caps’ 173
- 9 Camps as social service and social movement 195
- 10 ‘Down with the concentration camps!’ 222
- Conclusion – Understanding work camps 245
- Select bibliography 264
- Index 271
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Abbreviations ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- Introduction 1
- 1 Colonising the land 9
- 2 ‘We work amongst the lowest stratum of life’ 32
- 3 Labour colonies and public health 57
- 4 Alternative living in the English countryside 77
- 5 ‘The landless man to the manless land’ 99
- 6 Transference and the Labour government, 1929–31 125
- 7 Incremental growth 148
- 8 ‘Light green uniforms, white aprons and caps’ 173
- 9 Camps as social service and social movement 195
- 10 ‘Down with the concentration camps!’ 222
- Conclusion – Understanding work camps 245
- Select bibliography 264
- Index 271