UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 115, 13 February 1928, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS ISSUE BETWEEN SOCIALISM AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE TO BE FOUGHT AT NEXT ELECTION The unemployment in Britain and the condition of the coal-mining industry were discussed in the House of Commons during the debate on the Labour amendment to the Address-in-Reply. The • President of the Board of Trade said the amendment had raised the issue between Socialism and private enterprise, and it was an issue on which the next election would be fought. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

London, February 10. The House of Commons resumed its debate on the Labour amendment to the Address-in-Reply. Mr. J. H. Thomas (Lab.) said that the Government speeches during the recent recess sug-

gested a substantial improvement, but actually when the House reassembled on Tuesday there were 69,000 more unemployed than before the recess. There were hundreds and thousands of young people who. since they left school or apprenticeship, had never done a day’s work, and were

now walking the streets, a condition which led to complete demoralisation and loss of character. We had the anomalous position of men of 70 being unable to retire, owing to too scant a pension, and men of 20, keen to work, being denied employment. The Government was wholly responsible. “Mr. Baldwin must be getting very tired, and could not be feeling happy with the incompetents surrounding him,” continued Mr. Thomas. "We believe he has been in power three years too long in the interest of the country and good government, and for the future of civilisation. I hope he will soon be relieved of the burden.” SOCIALISM THE ARK OF LABOUR COVENANT. Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, president of the Board of Trade, twitted Mr. Thomas with countering Mr. Arthur Henderson’s re-

cent declaration that if the Government went to the country now it would be a grave dereliction of its duty, and an act of treachery. The amendment had raised the issue between Socialism and private enterprise. “That is the issue on which we will fight,” he said. He agreed that Socialism was the

ark of the Labour covenant, and assumed that the dinghy of what was left of the Liberal Party would continue to wobble along in the ark’s wake. He looked forward to a much better opportunity for the younger people, largely because the work of training in the centres of progress was slow, but steady. An improved export trade was the best indication of returning prosperity, and the most hopeful market was the Empire. The Labour Party’s policy made Empire trade as difficult as could be by refusing preference. THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. Rugby, February 10. The debate was continued in the House of Commons on the Labour ■ amendment regretting that there was no mention made in the King’s Speech of measures designed to grapple with the pressing urgencv of unemployment. Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, President of the Board of Trade, replied to Labour attacks on the Government’s record in this matter. He said that from the charges launched against the Government it was clear that the issue lay between Socialism and private enterprise. “It is a great issue that is going to

be before the country. It is an issue on which we shall fight at the next election and on which you and we have got to justify to the electors our alternative policies.” The policy advocated by the Opposition was a policy of nationalisation, accompanied by a large relief scheme. Without doubt the more nationalisation they had the more relief they would have to have, because in competitive industries to-day the very qualities which were neecssary for success were just those qualities they could never get in State enterprise. The Government policy was to try to help the nation to a remunerative trade, and thus promote employment. There was no greater field overseas than the development of the Empire’s markets, and the whole policy of the Government was to give Imperial preference wherever it could consistently with its fiscal position. He mentioned the safeguarding measures of the Government as having assisted home industries. The motor-car industry, for instance, had been helped forward, and this provided more work. Every measure of the Government had helped employment. “I say without hesitation,” Sir Philip concluded, “that whether we are challenged in this House or in the country, by experience and by proof we will stand on our policy as against yours.”—British Official Wireless. BRITISH AND GERMAN COMPETITION. (Rec. February 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 11. Mr. R. J. G. Boothby (C.J, who is just' back from Germany, condemned the wasteful undercutting of prices between the British and German coal owners, which had cost the former eight millions sterling since the general strike. International agreements were operating the finance in several other industries. Why not in coal ? But there must be preliminary trustification reorganisation in the British coal trade. He believed that Sir Philip Cun-liffe-Lister could enforce this with the aid of the banks’ pressure. The Federation of German Industries was very anxious for Anglo-German agreements concerning coal, iron, and steel. An economic Locarno in Europe was the greatest need in order to maintain the world’s standard of living.—A.P.A. and “Sun.” GERMAN APPROACH TO BRITISH INDUSTRY. (Rec. February 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 11. Lobbyists agree that the speech in the House of Commons by Mr. Boothby, w'ho is Mr. Churchill’s Parliamentary private secretary, is unusually important ,amounting to a definite approach to the British industry by the German iron and steel cartel and coal owners. f

MR. COOK AGAIN PROPHESIES BIG COAL UPHEAVAL (Rec. February 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 11. Owing to further reductions in miners’ earnings in the north-eastern coalfields, the miners secretary, Mr, A. J. Cook, prophesies a big coal upheaval unless the Government intervenes. He adds that Australian miners have appealed to the international meeting at Brussels. French, Belgian, and German miners also fear reductions in wages, thus an international crisis exists, in addition to the British.—A.P.A. and “Sun.”