BETTER THAN 1914

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20058, 3 October 1939, Page 6

BETTER THAN 1914

WORKLESS IN BRITAIN WAR INCREASE SMALL RESERVES OF LABOUR NATION'S PEAK EFFORT (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.50 p.m. RUGBY, Oct. 2. The Ministry of Labour announced that at September 11, the total registered unemployed numbered 1,330,928 comprising 1,052,218 wholly unemployed, 227,099 temporarily laid oft and 51.(ill normally in casual employment. This represents an increase of 90,230 compared with a month before, but 407,690 less than a year ago. Contrary to the general expectations, the unemployment figures show only a moderate increase. Indeed, at the end of the first we eh of war unemployment increased to a smaller extent than often occurs in normal times owing to seasonal causes. The increase of 99,000 compares very favourably with some peacetime increases. For example, between December and January last, there was an increase of 208,000 workless, while last year the increase between August and September was 39,000. It is interesting to camparc the position now with 1914. Between July and August o'"that year, the trade union percentage of unemployment rose from 2.8 to 7.1 per cent. From the point of view of maintaining the fullest possible employment Jof resources the experience at the opening of the present war, therefore, was much better than at the beginning of the last war. Nearly three-quarters of the increase in unemployment this month was due to persons coining on the register as applicants for work, and not those who had lost previous work. The employment position revealed by these returns is thought In be much more satisfactory than if it had shown that all the country’s resources of man and woman power had been already fully absorbed, stretched out to the utmost by long hours of work.

But the total reserves of man and woman power for carrying the nation’s effort to a successful conclusion vastly exceed the unemployed reserve. It is known that the total population between the ages of 10 and 04 is now about 5.500,000 greater than in 1914. A very considerable expansion of output is still possible before the peak of the nation's effort is in sight.