The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1923. BRITAIN’S UNEMPLOYED.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1923, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1923. BRITAIN’S UNEMPLOYED.

The subject of finding remedies for the vast army of .unemployed in Great Britain is naturally a very wide one. and the Government effort in that direction aroused much general concern. A late English paper remarked that great interest attached to the British Government's proposals lor dealing with unemployment which were announced in the House of Commons by the Mini.-ter of Labour. The magnitude of the problem will be seen from the latest official figures showing that on November 27th.. the number of persons recorded as wholly unemployed was 1,387.100 or nearly 8,400 more than in the preceding week, but over 436.000 less than the figure recorded, at. the beginning of the year. With regard ro the main directions in which

unemployment ran oe relieved, Sir Montague Barlow mentioned that the first was relief and general work, and particularly toad works, and that in eonneetion with the special programme tor the coming winter the amount of money available under the late Government's proposals at the beginning of the winter was £5,300,000. A huge number of applications had been put in by local authorities and these schemes were being rapidly pressed forward. Tln> financial basis of these schemes is usually 50 per cent contribution from it lie State. Towards the construction of the new arterial road from Manchester to Liverpool—which the Government hope will be initiated at an catly date—the State is to contribute £1.500,000 in addition to the larger sums alteir.lv mentioned; while for the current financial year 010,000(MK) from the Hoad Fund will lie devoted to ordinary highway maintenance and improvement to absorb unskilled labour. The question of a further large programme of arterial road development is being seriously considered. The late Government authorised £30,000,090 for loans to local authorities and of this sum £23,000,000 has been sanctioned. To enable additional work to the extent of £2.000000 being put in hand the 1 nentployniont Grants Committee are to he authorised to revert to the system of making grants of 00 tier cent, of the wages bill, and a I>t ft Iter £OOO.OOO is being allocated. Employment in final districts, such as land drainage and improvements, 'including water supply is to lie further assisted by a grant of £170.000 additional to t-lie sum of £309,000 which schemes already before the Ministry of .Agriculture would exhaust; while other sums including about £1,000,000 for the acceleration of Rost Office works, are to be ex pended in various useful ways. As a means of -fostering trade the Government are renewing the Trade Facilities Act. which expired on November 0. for another twelve months, and He amount- of capital which might be guaranteed is to be increased from £25.009.000 to £50.090.000. in addition to which it: is proposed that the existing limits of £20.900,000 under the Fxnorts Credits Scheme shall be extended if necessary. Tn regard to unemployment insurance, a new seerkil period will continue until July, during which time existing provisions will enable about £3-5.000.000 to be paid out bv wav of benefit; while itt eonneetion with the proposed unemployment insurance by industries, lire liniinary steps have now been taken by the Ministry of Labour to examine The question, as mentioned in the succeeding article. It is very evident that tho Government realise the importance of various useful schemes in carrying a proportion of the unemployment burden, but, as may be judged from the •eno.'iinous milliner of men out of work, it must be left to the ordinary processes of industry and development completely to relieve the unfortunate situation. In this eonneetion much depends upon the marketing of British manufactures. tojr<?tlier with the success oi‘ the Kx porta Credits Scheme, and the whole question largely hinges on the rv-ostaldisli-ment of stable conditions on the Continent. Tn the meantime ii may bo recorded with satisfaction ihar. the railway companies are prepared to expedite their programmes of development work, involving millions of pounds, while tho supply of electricity is another large field in which operations a-,e in contemplation, likely to result in an expenditure approximating £10,090,000. and will provide a great deal of employment both for unskilled workers and for skilled workers in factories