The Evening Star THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1928. BRITAIN’S BLACK SPOTS.

Evening Star, Issue 20059, 27 December 1928, Page 10

The Evening Star THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1928. BRITAIN’S BLACK SPOTS.

Wrru the continuance cf satisfactory bulletins about tho King’s condition, the Christmas atmosphere in tho Home Country was appreciably brightened, yet a shadow still hangs over the land. Unemployment is a problem that has caused 'tho Government and local authorities much anxiety in tho postwar years. Now it has become intensified by reason of the economic conditions in tho coalfields, with the result that many thousands of miners arc deprived of the means of subsistence for themselves and their families. With tho high level of prosperity in this country there are few homes indeed that would,have to go without their Christmas cheer and round of amusements, but in what are known as tho “black spots,” of Britain the spectre of desolation and want haunts the countryside. The extent of tho trouble may bo understood from a few graphic words uttered by the Prince of Wales in an appeal which was broadcast on Christmas Night. He said that there wore a quarter of a million miners out of work, with three times as many dependents, who have boon without wagos for months because of the distress, ft must be remembered, too, that it is midwinter at Homo, which intensifies the suffering. The experience of tho social, workers is that the poor do not dread the pangs of hunger so much as tho cold of tho English winter. Bearing in mind tho tendency of mankind to take tho easier way, the Prince made the remark : “ Ho not let ns think at this time of the year of taking tho lino of least resistance and put it out of mind and out of sight.”

From tho first the,members of the Royal Family have shown tho keenest interest in tho developments in tho troubled areas, coupled with practical sympathy-. Tho Government recently appealed to property owners to make a contribution to tho national problem of industrial transfer by offering employment as estate workmen to unemployed colliers in the distressed areas. Tho King at once responded, and two days before ho caught tho chill which brought on his illness made arrangements for tho employment of exminers at Sandringham. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family also sent gifts of clothing and other necessaries for tho benefit of povertystricken homes. The value of these actions' is in tho realisation by the King and Queen and the heir to tho throne of the gravity of tho situation and the example set to the nation to' help in a time of stress. In response to appeals by the Lord Mayor of London and other cities, large sums have been raised, and the Government is subsidising-them; but the numbers of people implicated are so great and the distress is so acute that no amount is likely to be obtained that will do more than alleviate the position for tho moment. Many thousands of women and children will continue to be in the direst need while the men look in vain for work. Tho Government has various schemes in hand to relievo the position, hut these must necessarily take time before they can become effective in any big way. As an example of this, Mr Baldwin said recently that the transfer of the unemployed from tho distressed areas was proceeding steadily, but it -was hindered because married men found it difficult to leave their homes unless special assistance was available for their removal and the resettlement of their families, and ho obtained from tho House of Commons a grant of £IOO,OOO for this purpose. This problem of unemployment is tho greatest that faces Britain today, and its solution can only be found iu concerted and sustained action in all departments ot the industrial life of the country.