LABOUR ANODYNES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 336, 24 October 1908, Page 5

LABOUR ANODYNES.

ARE THEY ADEQUATE? THE LABOUR PARTY ASKS FOR MORE. AID FOR ONE' IN FIFTEEN. (di ULEasAPn—mess association—coi'tiiioht.l ' London, October 22. Mr. Asquith's statement of works of utility that aro to bo put in hand to alleviate unemployment during the winter — anodynes, as. the Prime Minister called them —is keenly discussed in various quarters; Liberals aro divided in opinion about the proposals, some considering they will prove a satisfactory palliative, while others hold that they will not be sufficiently far-reaching in their effect. Tho Labour party consider the administrative concessions proposed. will be quite inadequate, and express the opinion that although plenty of money will be available, the municipalities will not find work. The party has appointed a committee to formulate proposals for tiding over the mnter. Unionists regret that the unemployed in • Scotland aro not to be utilised in excavation work at tho Rosytb naval base. "fhe Times" says that the proposals of the Government are satisfactory and worthy of support until they have been proved inadequate, or needlessly lax. The "Daily Mail" is of opinion that by providing work for' 45,000 persons, Mr. Asquith assists one in 15 out of 645,000 unemployed. , Tho "Daily News" says the proposals will afford no relief to unemployed women. The building of the destroyers ordered at Glasgow will afford employment for 4000 men. _ ■■■ ' ■ A HOSTILE AMENDMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE DEFICIENCIES." !

. MINISTRY'S NEGLECT.. (Rec. Ootober 23, • 8.40 p.m.) London, October 23. The following Ministerialist motion will be moved in the House of Commons on Monday:— "That the House welcomes Mr. Asquith's_ statement regarding the national importance of the problem of unemployment, and approves of the steps proposed therein to deal ""with the matter." Mr. Keir Hardie, on behalf of the independent Labour party, will move the following amendment:— . "That, while recognising the importance of Mr. Asquith's promise to introduco ' early legislation ■ dealing with unemployment on a permanent basis, and while welcoming his promise to administer with more elas- , ticity the .existing Act; and to provide more money, this House is of opinion that' his proposals are quite inadequate to meet the pressing needs of this winter; and that tho absence of the proper machinery even for oarrying out the existing powers, and the general unpreparedness of the country to meet the present unemployed crisis, are due to the neglect of the Government to make provision for State affairs the need of .which, wai clearly, foresoen.",. The Unionist party will- - not move any y~, ; *• ■ . The preamble of Mr. Keir Eardio's amendment is careful to place oh record the "permanent legislation" portion of the.Prime Minister's promise. . Before .reciting the temporary relief measures,- Mr, Asquith's statement intimated that the Government "intended to make a Beginning next session to deal in a permanent way with the causes and conditions of unemployment." v