NEW PHASE STARTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 89, 9 January 1935, Page 9

NEW PHASE STARTS

Welfare of Unemployed in Britain s BOARD BEGINS CAREER (British Official Wireless.) (Received January 8, 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, January 7. What is described as a new chapter in the social history of Great Britaiti was opened to-day, when the Unemployment Assistance .Board began its career as a national authority charged with the maintenance and welfare of ablebodied unemployed. Sir Henry Betterton, formerly Minister of Labour, and one of the new peers in the Honours List, abandoned his political career to become the first chairman of the board. It assumes its functions in two stages. From to-day, about 750,000 persons receiving transitional payments which in future will be known as unemployed assistance allowances, qome within its care, and in three months’ time it will take over responsibility for all ablebodied unemployed men entitled to help from local public assistance authorities. After that date, upon present estimates if dependants are included, the board will have charge of about 4.000,000 people, and will administer about £55,000,000 yearly. It will have a staff throughout the country of about 6000 officials. SHORTER WORKING WEEK ■ Conference in Britain London, January 7. The Hon. Oliver Stanley, Minister of Labour, is arranging to meet the Trades Union Council General Council and employers regarding a shorter working week, and also to discuss overtime and sharing existing work. The trades unions, although anxious for a reduction of •hours, are not prepared to agree to a reduction in wages