BRITISH WORKLESS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1933, Page 5

BRITISH WORKLESS

DEBATE IN COMMONS

CONFIDENCE GREATLY RESTORED

(British Official Wifeless.)

RUGBY, IGarcf: 22. Mr Lan.sburv presented ,a petition in the Hous. e of Conimon s from the I General 'Council of 'the Trades Union Congress, the National Executi\- 0 of I the Labour Party, and the Co-opera-tion Union, urging th e initiation of public works, in order to deal with the unemployed] This subject was also raised during t.hp debate «. n the Consolidated Fund Bill,, when Mr Rhys Davies asked for GSovteTiiment proposals for 'housing, the reclamation of land, and a proposal for a forty-hour week. Mr MacMillan urged the reduction of taxation, to stimulate private enterprise, and thug increase purchasing power and bring more money into circulation. The 'Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Neville Chamberlain) said that the Ministry of Labour had already begun ,a discussion - with employers and employed, in connection with the proposal for a forty-hour week, but it wag impossible for Britain to im-

pose On her own industries a measure

for reducing hours, which was not accepted by other countries. H e expressed sympathy with the proposals, which would lead t.o increased employment wtihout raising the costs of production.

Referring to direct expenditure by the Government, he mentioned that several projects were in preparation. Regarding other expenditure, the Government would readily look into any proposal advanced by the industries themselves, and would examine with an open mind what assistance was necessary.

He denied that public works by local authorities were being held up by th e Government. The Minister of Health would n°t refuse to sanction any loans, providing he were satisfied that the financial condition of the local authority justified them. 'He did not think it could be established that (the Continued high "figure 'of 'unemployment wa>s due to the falling off in public works. In hi,3 view, the main hope of recovery lay in, the restoration of the export trade, which was now (hampered ; by exchange control, quotas prohibition, and excessive tar. iffs.

•It was a formidable task to induce other countries to remove or mitigate those tariffs, but it would be a mistake to take an unhopeful 'view of the prospects. In several directions, there wa s reason to suppose -that the situation was likely to improve in t-hp next few months. He mentioned the United States, where, thanks to the initiative, oour-ge and wisdom of the new President, a change had taken place which might almost be called miraculous.

Confidence had been largely restored, and the sense of hope for the future had come back to the American people. That confidence was being reflected here in the Stock Exchange and financial matters. Tjhe European situation had also undergone a remarkable beneficial change.

Regarding the World Economic Conference, he said that he saw no reason why it -.should not take place within the next two or thre e months. He hoped to follow up his recent long conversations frith 4he French Finance Minister, by a smaller conversation with the Italian Minister. He did not think that, at any time since the war, ther e had been closer approximation between the views of the British and French Governments upon the important subjects which would hav e to be discuosed at the World Economic Conference.