THE BRITISH UNEMPLOYED

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2329, 23 October 1908, Page 5

THE BRITISH UNEMPLOYED

LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL’S ' . SCHEME.

DIVISION IN THE CABINET

United Press Association. Copyright

_ LONDON, Oct. 21

„ 'The London County Council . lias authorised work to absorb the unemployed, including the expenditure of a sum of £281,000 on the electrification of trams, but negatived the scheme of Captain’ Hemphill, deputy chairman, to expend a million pounds on electrical traction and street widening. , Mr. John Burns asked the Council to facilitate useful schemes for winter work. ’ The “Times” declares that the Cabinet is divided as to whether the remedy for unemployment will be legislative or administrative. A GRAVE SITUATION. THE GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS United Press Association. Copyright (Received Oct. 22, 10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct, 22. In the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith informed a packed House that the Government intended at the beginning of next session to deal permently with the causes and conditions •of unemployment. He , admitted that a grave situation had arisen necessitating direct and immediate treatment. This temporary dislocation of the machinery of production had occurred throughout the world, and not merely in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister admitted that unemployment was substantially in excess of anything experienced for sonic time. He declared that Mr. John Burns had worked day and night to provide relief. Between June and October the Local Government Board had sanctioned money for local"works of utility to the extent of £4,88,000, this being much in excess of the average. Other heavy loan® were likely to be sanctioned for works that were being accelerated in the metropolis and the large provincial centres. The Water Board intended to construct a reservoir to cost £520,000. The Government did not intend to authorise local authorities, to levy a penny relief rate. Municipalities had not sought that power, but had advised the Government to deal with the emergency on national lines. In any case the expenditure of loans would be tenfold what was. possible under the rates. The Post Office intended to employ 8000 extra assistants at Christmas, and the War Office would take 240,000 recruits for special reserves at a cost of £200,000. During the winter 2100 were being engaged in the Government dockyards in repair work. Tenders had already been accepted for new destroyers costing £9,000,000, and tenders would shortly be accepted for five armoured cruisers at a cost of £11,500,000. All this navy work would bo commenced six weeks in advance of the usual time. The expenditure of the central fund would be at least £300,000 under more- elastic liberal provisions. The Government proposals made no pretence at finality, but were merely anodynes affording temporary relief.

The statement was received with loud cheers. The proposals will he debated on Monday. . '•