UNEMPLOYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1929, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT

STATEMTNT BY MR THOMAS

(British Official Wireless)

(Received this day at 11, a.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 4

In the House of Commons to-day Mr J: j-j. Thomas (Minister in charge of the unemployment problem) made a statement on the subject. He recalled that, when he first addressee! the. House on this question, he indicated lie had no magic cure lor the problem. He had made it perfectly vicar then, as he did now, that it was not a temporaly problem. If it were lie should he able to 'deal u itli it by temporary means. Capital had been made of the fact that, since tin’s Government came into office, the unemployment figures had increased 'by nearly ICO.(XXL

He pointed out that, when twelve months ago, the late Government weie in office the figures increased in precisely the same period by 200,0C0. That merely indicated seasonal changes which were inevitable and not the real test of the unemployment problem. He indicated again to-day the broad view whereon he based his policy. 1

i'lie first was how, by expenditure of public money, they could find unemployment in work that, in itself, would increase the efficiency of the nation and not acid to the general burden of industry by dead capital. The v second point was how could the Government rely oil the import and export trade and stimulate productive capacity of industry generally.

Thirdly: How could the great potentialities of the Empire be developed and encouraged to contribute to both these objects. Mr Thomas recalled that lie had set up a committee, composed of icq> resentative men of all classes, to examine the question submitted under the first category. In three months the committee had passed various schemes totalling an expenditure ol £7.000,000. This was divided between Great •Western Railways, London, Midland and Scottish Railways and Metropolitan Railway.

He hoped legislation would enable: the work of Charing Cross Station to be begun before May or June next, and he trusted that work might be started on the reconditioning of Waterloo Bridge, even before Christmas Every endeavour was being made to reach a settlement, between the parties concerned' whereby a tunne' under the river Thames between Dartford and Partfleet would be constructed. This scheme involved £3,000,000. In an attempt to speed up the development of the Colonial Empire, X'3.000.000 was to be spent on the Zambesi and it was estimated this would provide employment in this country for 59,000 men.

The total expenditure of all schemes mentioned would be £42,003,000, Other schemes were under review, continued Mr Thomas, involving many millions of pounds.

With regard to his visit to Canada, ho told the Canadians that we ■were the best customers of their natural products. For every pound they spent with us they spent five pounds with the United States. Ho concentrated on coal and Canada imported 16.070,0C0 tons of American coni last year. He knew we Could not hope to compete with the whole 16,000,000 tons.

In Saint Lawrence. 2,259.000 tons of American coni were used and on that, lie concentrated. Even years ago, this country for a time, sent hard coal to Canada.