BRITAIN’S BURDEN

Southland Times, Issue 21094, 28 May 1930, Page 5

BRITAIN’S BURDEN

ARMY OF UNEMPLOYED SPEECHES BY POLITICAL LEADERS CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.20 p.m.) London, May 27. Two noteworthy references to unemployment were made in speeches delivered last night. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, addressing his constituents of Seaham Harbour, said that the unemployment problem had changed since the general election. It would not then have been fair to ask other parties to co-operate with Labour. The Government had its policy and the Tories had theirs, and they could not be united. Circumstances were now changing on the national aspects of unemployment, and the. Government would now welcome any amount of cooperation.

Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Nottingham, said he would be surprised if the unemployment figures stopped before the 2,000,000 mark was reached. Therefore it was essential for all men of goodwill to devote themselves to ending the evil, which was eating the vitals of the nation. The Liberals had put forward a policy, but renounced all right to let Labour take it and act upon it.

These speeches gain further significance from the fact that Mr MacDonald has assumed the chairmanship of the Cabinet Committee on Unemployment on the eve of the adjourned debate on Mr J. H. Thomas's salary on Wednesday.