ECONOMY CAMPAIGN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 36, 13 February 1933, Page 6

ECONOMY CAMPAIGN

ITS WISDOM QUESTIONED

(Fron) "The Post's" Representative.) j;: /iM LONDON; 6th January.

It is estimated by* the BuildingJlndustries: National Council that schemes for building public works "costing approximately £.30,0Q0,b0Q: have been held Up directly or indirectly by the economy campaign.

Of this total, the holding up of schemes estimated to cost £.18,000,000 is considered to be a 'diroct result of Government circulars sent out in September, 1931. .

:; If these scheines-^-f orthe building of'-.'schools, baths, hospitals^ town halls/ municipal buildings, houses, and roaids —haii been carried out, the council estimate that 80 per cent, of the ;inoney, involved would have been spent on wages, and work at a weekly wage of &5 would have been provided-for one year for 167,000 men. - . \ 'V ;. The circulation of money and the benefit to trade generally would have meant-employment for many thousands more men, bringing the total number of additional workers employed through such work to about 340,000. The figures are based on the first 309 replies received by the council to questionnaires sent out last November and December to 1800 local authorities requesting particulars about postponed schemes. Of these, 111 show curtailment ot schemes to the value of £4,817,766, an average curtailment of £43,403. ,The cost of schemes curtailed in direct response to the Government circulars is £3,209,472.