THOUSAND MINERS GONE TO DOMINIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 276, 11 February 1928, Page 9

THOUSAND MINERS GONE TO DOMINIONS

EIGHT HOURS ACT NOT TO BLAME FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Friday. “Ninety-two per cent, of former miners have been trained in woodwork, plastering and painting, and have obtained work. Nearly 1,000 miner trainees have gone to the Dominions.” This statement was made in the House of Commons to-day by the Minister of Health, Mr. Neville Chamberlain. Replying to Mr. Arthur Henderson’s statement that the Eight Hours Act had been the direct means of adding 100,000 men to the ranks of the unemployed, Mr. Chamberlain said that it was fallacious to blame the Eight Hours Act for the increase in unemployment. The Act had reduced the price of coal 2s 8d a ton and had resulted in more coal being mined and marketed. Unemployment was not general, but concentrated in the basic industries of coal, iron and steel, in which there was a permanent surplus of labour. The Ministry of Labour was operating several training schemes with a view to the transference of men from “black spots” of unemployment to other districts and other employment. Mr. R. C. Wallhead, Labour mem her for Merthyr Tydvil, said it was a rather cruel joke to throw former miners into a competitive market after a few weeks of training in new occupations.—A. and N.Z.