UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 2, 27 September 1921, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN

EFFECT OF THE WAR ON TRADE AND 1 COMMERCE I ■ GOVERNMENT’S RELIEF MEASURES The British Minister of Labour says the unemployment problem is a result of the “terrific smash” f of and the only permanent remedy is to get the trade wheels going round again. f By Telegranh—Preea Association—OonyrigM (Rec. September 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 26. Dr. Macnamara (Minister of Labour), interviewed by the “Daily Chronicle” 1 regarding unemployment, says: "The ter-' rifio smash of 1914-18 has thrown trade and commerce off tho rails. ' That is the reason for the facts now confronting the Government. Our best foreign’ customers want goods, but cannot pay e for them.' Tho Government has had these problems for more than a year. During the present year between sixty' . thousand and a hundred thousand have been employed on various relief schemes. Ninety thousand are now employed. Twentyfive million .pounds has been set aside for schemed which'are being carried out, in additioir to forty-six millions paid out to unemployment benefits." Referring to criticisms that these moneys should have been devoted tfto productive works, the Minister, said it was difficult to make work outside the'ordinary fields of industry. Tho Government so far was unable to do much in that direction. The only natural permanent remedy was to get the trade wheels going round again.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. > ; ( ' GOVERNMENT’S LOAN TERMS DECLARED INADEQUATE. , (Rec. September 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, .September 26. The Council of the Scottish iLabour Party ..accepted a resolution condemning the Government’s proposed loan terma to local authorities as inadequate, urging the Government to take full financial responsibility' for unemployment, and that failing provision of work, tho local: authorities pay maintenance to tho un-’ employed on a weekly of ad nite <£l, youths under eighteen 7s. 6d., and children five 'shillings, the State refunding the payments—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.' MAIN BUSINESS OF AUTUMN SESSION IMPORTANT CONFERENCES TO BE HELD. (Rec. September 26, 10.25 p.m.) London. September 25. v Tho Timcs’tesays that business men and traders welcome the Cabinet’s re-, cognition that the present wave of un-! employment is not merely a temporary evil solvable by palliations, but a continuing problem. Unless industry is substantially restored the unemployment question will be the main business of .the autumn session. As soon as Air. Lloyd George returns to London ho will hold an important series of conferences with traders, manufacturers, and bankers, in order that they, with the Government, may make a concerted effort to restore British prosperity. "The Times” adds that the autumn session will be as short ns possible, and only in the event of the'failure of the conference or a fear of its breakdown will the Irish question’ appear on the government’s autumn programme.-' The / Times." '' ' '