LABOUR ON WARPATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 342, 1 May 1928, Page 9

LABOUR ON WARPATH

BRITISH UNEMPLOYMENT “CALLOUS DISREGARD SHOWN" GOVERNMENT ATTACKED ( United P.A. — By Telegraph—Copyright > (Australian P.A.—United Service) Reed. noon. LONDON. Monday. IN the House of Commons, Mr. J. ShinweU (Labour) in committee moved to reduce the Ministry of Labour estimates, as a protest against the Government's callous dis regard of the unemployed, which, he said, was unparalleled in Britain’s history.

The true state of affairs was not disclosed, and was much worse than the official statistics sho-wed. The Government passed the Eight-Hour Act i nthe interests of increased coal production. Now the coal-owners were demanding restriction of output. “The industrial tranference board had found no work for a single man. though there were 50,000 unemployed in South Wales. It sent only 221 men to the training centres. “The Government had produced the new problem of derelict mining towns.” Sir R. Horne. Conservative, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, said nobody had a remedy for unemployment, which was a problem and a paralysing difficulty. What was Labour's remedy for the importation of commodities, which was causing unemployment in Britain? He emphasised that there were opportunities for migrants in Australia and New Zealand. Mr. R. C. Wallhead, Labour member for Merthyr: Let us all go there. Sir R. Horne: If I were young enough, I would be glad to lead you thither.

Mr. A. MacLaren, Labour: Why don’t you marry? Sir Robert: I have not your aitractionr or 1 might have done. The chairman of a matrimonial agency is not included in the functions of the Ministry of Labour. The Ministry ought particularly to give attention to the emigration of juveniles. There are half a million more employed in Britain than before the war. but tlfbro were more people than could ever find work. “It is our respensobilitv and bounden duty to find opportunities, to get rid of the tragic case of youths unemployed from the moment of leaving school. Mr. R. S. Hudson. Conservative member for Whitehaven, said hundreds of men in his constituency has refused to go to the training centres. Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck (Conservative) said the Government's refusal to ratify the Washington Eighthours Convention had gravely injured the British workers. Mr. C. Edwards (Labour! said that if they approached the problem in a non-party spirit, as with the Prayer Book, a solution could be found. They would have to consider pensioning the older order to give the younger men a chance. Mr. H. B. Betterton. Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Labour, replying to a question, said the Transferance Board was reporting shortly. The board was giving special attention to oversea settlement. The Government was co-operating with the education authorities to prevent demoralisation of unemployed youths. Work would be found for 92 per cent, of the youths from the training centres, of which there were now 100 with an average daily attendance of 6,600, x Mr. D. R. Grenfell (Labour): Onetenth of the money needed to transfer the unemployed miners would reconstruct the coal trade and reabsorb the lot. Mr. Wallhead read a letter from experts stating that there were 100,000 unemployed dind Australia, and it \Aas cruel and criminal to send out men to the rigours of bush life, which native Australians would not face.