UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1920, Page 1

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

BRITAIN’S SERIOUS POSITION. STATEMENT IN COMMONS. [I!Y TELKCHAI>II— IMOIt PIIEBS association] AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BONBON, Dec. 22. Rt Hob Mr McNamara, in moving tlie second reading of the Consolidated I und Bill in the House of Commons, said that the unemployment in England. as registcied on December 10th, comprised the following:— Ex-service men 265,000 Civilian men 118,000 Women 134,000 Total 547,000 Air McNamara stated the above tola’s were apart from those unemployed "fiu are unregistered. This total, he said, was below the record of some pre-war times. But the cost of living has now risen 167 per cent higher than before the war. •Hence the problem is a more grim and acute one. At least half the unemployed were young and active men, to whom the country was under profound obligations, and men who wanted work, and not doles.

THE REMEDY PROPOSED. LONDON, Dec. 22

Rt Hon Dr McNamara, referring to remedies for the unemployment, went into details as to the offer made by the Government, on the ex-servicemen’s behalf, to the building trade unions. The Government, he said, had also appointed a special eonnnitee, with Lord Saint Davids presiding over it, to whom had been given three millions lor the purpose of assisting local authorities in carrying out approved schemes on behalf of unemployed. These were to be schemes other than housing and roadmaking, and of a remunerative character. A deputation of Labour members had, he said, last week advocated the setting aside of four weeks’ qualifying period for the benefit under the Unemployment insurance provision, and also useful work by various Government Departments making grants, also aid for distress committees and the reviva' of out-of-door donations for civilians.

The- Cabinet, he said, had decided to accept the proposal for setting aside the four weeks’ qualification period. The system would also in a short time be introduced into Government establishments, hut a continuance of civilians’ ont-of-doors donations was neitlier feasable nor desirable. England, he added, was now experiencing its worst period of unemployment for the past twelve years. LLOYD GEORGE’S PROPOSALS. LONDON, Dec. 22. During the unemployment debate in the House of Commons, the Premier painted a gloomy picture of continental conditions, especially those in Central Europe. He declared that unless the world were restored to more normal conditions, the problem of unemployment in Britain would he past grappling with. “Our customers,” he said, “are insolvent. Europe cannot buy. We are a prosperous shop, whose neighbours have gone bankrupt.” Amongst the suggestions under consideration, he said, was the sale of the Government’s wool to the people of Central Europe, on the credit system, which would enable trade to go on. .

In his unemployment speech, Mr Lloyd George»startled the House of Commons by saying that he would like to see a scheme of immigration to the Dominions. It could he considered iir conjunction with the Dominion^,for the men who were unable to find permanent work in England, for some time to come: EX-SOLDIERS HARD UP. LONDON, Dec. 22. Scores of discharged soldiers are besieging Australia House daily, requesting some assistance to tide them over Xmas. ' Many of the applicants are men who came recently from Australia. The recipients of aid already number some hundreds. * A LABOUR VIEW. LONDON, Dec. 22. Discussing the Government’s policy for the relief of the unemployed, Mr p. R, dynes said the proposals which the Government had laid before the House would not provide a complete solution, but they were a contribution towards meeting the serious situation.