UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 117, 15 February 1928, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

DISCUSSED IN HOUSE OF COMMONS MR. BALDWIN ON THE SITUATION LABOUR PARTY’S AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS DEFEATED During the debate in the House of Commons on the unemployment problem, Mr. Baldwin said that within the past three years half a million new workers had found permanent employment, which was a marvellous tribute to the elasticity of trade. The real problem at present was the transference of workers from the black spots to better areas.

The Labour Party’s amendment to the Address-in-Reply was defeated by 293 votes to 137.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

(Rec. February 14, 8.25 p.m.)

London, February 13. In the House of Commons Mr. J. R. Clynes (Lab.), resuming the debate on the Labour amendment to the Address-in-Reply, said he feared there was trouble ahead' for the cotton trade. The

employers had learned nothing from the coalfields, but were simply repeating the propositions to reduce wages and increase working hours, which were responsible for all industrial disputes in recent years. He urged an impartial inquiry into the cotton

trade problems. Mr. J. R. MacDonald said the Government was seeking to accommodate new industries to old by reducing wages and heaping up cost upon the backs of the wage-earners. “We will never accept or agree to this,” he declared, hence the amendment. MR. BALDWIN’S REPLY. The Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, replying, said there was a tendency to imagine always that the same million persons were hopelessly unemployed.

The fact was that ; half a million of 1 these always had ; been in recent ems ployment. Within ’ the past three 1 years half a mil- : lion new workers > had found permanent employment, I which was a niar- ! vellous tribute to • the elasticity <>[ ; trade. In many s parts of the coun- ” try the standard of life was appreci-

, ably better than before the war. The International

Labour Office stated that real wages in Britain were nearly double those in Brussels, Rome, Vienna, and Paris, and onethird above Berlin. “We can only maintain the standard of -life by avoiding . industrial disputes. A national effort, fortunately, is being made to this end. . The real problem' at the present time., is the transference of workers from the black spots to better areas, which are being given close attention.” The Premier said he hoped the Labourites would co-operate in this effort. v “NOBODY HAS IMMEDIATE REMEDY.” Commenting on the sparse attendance of the Oppositionists, Mr. Baldwin declared: “This shows you realise that nobody has an immediate remedy for unemployment. If people believed your indictment was true, we would be ■'•■swept out of office, to-night. You would win every by-election. But you are not making headway at the polls. We shall be ready to meet these or anv other charges when the Labour Whips think it will be decent for us to have a general election.” The Labour amendment was defeated by 293 votes to 137. TAXATION RELIEF NOT PROMISED. Colonel Gretton (C.), on behalf of an economy group of Ministerialists, moved an amendment regretting that the Government had not promised econ- . oiny and relief from taxation. He admitted that the cost of the fighting forces had substantially deminished, except that of the Air Force,, but. the civilian .staffs in most of the Departments were swollen. Sir Frank Nelson (C.), in seconding, suggested a select committee, under the chairmanship of the head of one of the Big Five banks, might discover redundancies in the Government staffs. The amendment was lost by. 189 votes to 84, five Ministerialists voting with the minority.—A.P.A. and ..f’Sun.”