The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 21, 1928. THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 21, 1928. THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

Tin-: unemployment problem is not conjined to our own country as read-

ers or the general news will he aware. It is very rife in the Old Country since the difficult times of the after-war problems which have touched industry so intimately. Writing on this subject, an exchange says that while there may be no warrant for saying that efforts to cope with the problem of unemployment in Great Britain are proving ineffectual, the fact remains that, according to figures published a few days ago, the number of unemployed exceeds at the present time a million and a quarter and is 200.(KM) greater than tlie total of a year ago. Xo single section of tin's army of unemployed presents a greater problem than the coal miners. According to a recent estimate the coal industry is employing to-day about 900.000 men as compared with 1.200.000 in more fortunate circumstances, and the number of miners who may lie regarded as permanently unemployed is approximately 200.000. Tf the depend-

cuts of these men are taken into account four or live times that number ol persons must lie affected liy the position of the eoal industry that has led to the elos ug down of a proportion of the collieries. With mid-wm-ter at hand the situation of these people will be the more unfortunate and deplorable. Concerted ell'orts to improve the marketin'! of the output ol the British eoal industry are be in a; attended, apparently, with some success, but results that will conduce to greater activity on the | art of the industry are not very rapidly attainable. The outstanding need is that of affording reoe. to the unemployed miners and their dependents, and the season of the year should he favourable to a sympathetic response to the movement which has been put on foot to bring about an amelioration of their position throng:, private generosity The matter is one of national concern, and an endeavour is being made to cope with it on that oasis through the “adoption’’ of special coal-held areas by towns and districts in other parts of the country in which trade is good and where there is little unemployment. The Government has evidently realised that whatever it may be possible to do for the unemployed miners by other means there is an immediate call for practical assistance of a material kind. The Lord .Mayor of London lias opened a fund on helm If of the people in the distressed mining areas, and it is understood that the Government has decided to make a substantial contribution to it for the provision of boots, clothing and food which it regards as the most pressing needs of the moment. A Treasury grant to a fund of this kind probably marks Lhe establishment of a new precedent. The contribution of public money towards an object of this nature is an indication. of course, of a recognition by

,j.c Government that the exigencies of the situation justify, in the interests uf humanity, a departure from customary practice. Out of their abundance (lie well-to-do in Great Britain bare it in their power to make this appeal on behalf of the unemployed miners productive ol results that would exceed anticipations, and. whether they do their part or not, no doubt the response will he creditable to the nation. Belief funds are. it is to be acknowledged, mere palliatives ol the conditions that are created by the

■xistence of unempoymeiit, hut they constitute at times the only method whereby timely assistance may lie rendered to those who are ill need of if.