ABSTRACT
WHEN it became evident in the autumn of 1918 that peace must come soon, anxiety was naturally focussed on the problem of transfer, particularly of the transfer of wageearners. Vast armies would have to be rapidly demobilised and work in war factories, which had been engaging several millions of men and women, would come abruptly to an end. Would alternative work be available for them ~ Could their transfer to such work be accomplished without great masses of would-be employees being thrown for a long period into involuntary idleness, with resultant dangerous reactions upon our whole social and political life ~ This question could not be answered beforehand with any assurance. It was the clear duty of the Government to watch over and, so far as might be, protect the process.
