COMMONS IN SESSION

Evening Star, Issue 19788, 11 February 1928, Page 11

COMMONS IN SESSION

GOVERNMENT'S UNEMPLOYMENT POLICY CRITICISED DEBATE OH LABOR AMENDMENT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 10. (Received February 11, at 12 p.m.) The House of Commons resumed the debate on tho Labor amendment. Mr Thomas said that the Government speeches during the recess suggested a substantial improvement in the unemployment position. Actually, when tho House reassembled on Tuesday it transpired that there were 69,000 more unemployed than before the recess. There were hundreds of thousands of young people who, since they left school or apprenticeship, had never done a day’s work. They were walking tho streets, which led to complete demoralisation and loss of character. They had tho anomalous position of men of seventy being unable to retire owing to tho scant pension, and men of twenty keen to work being denied employment, for which tho Government was wholly responsible. Mr Baldwin must be getting very tired. Ho could not bo feeling happy with incompetents surrounding him. “ Wc believe that ho has been in three years too long in the interests of Hie country, good government, amMhe future of civilisation. It is to be hoped that ho will soon be relieved of his burden,” concluded Mr Thomas. Mr Cunlifl'e-Listcr twitted Air Thomas with countering Mr Henderson’s recent declaration that if tho Government went to the country now it would be a grave dereliction of duty and an act of treachery. The amendment raised the issue between Socialism and private enterprise. ‘‘ That,” bo said, “is tho issue on which we will fight.” He agreed that Socialism was the ark of the Labor covenant, and assumed that the dinghy of what was loft of the Liberal Party would wobble along in the ark’s wake. He looked forward to a much better opportunity fur tho younger people, largely because of the work of tiie training centres, the progress of which was slow but steady. The improved export trade was the best indication of returning prosperity, and the most hopeful market was the Empire. The Labor Party’s policy made Empire trade as difficult as could be, refusing preference.