THE UNEMPLOYED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 257, 23 October 1908, Page 3

THE UNEMPLOYED.

A GRAVE SITUATION. DIRKCT AND IMMEDIATE THE IT ill-XT. TUIS BimTSH~OVKKN MENUS INTENTIONS. RKCEiVKD WITH UIKERS.

Received 22, Hi p. m . London, Oetoher 22. In tlie House of Commons, the Premier (Mr. 11. H. Asiniith) informed a packed House that the (iovernm.-nl intended at the beginning of next session to deal with the permanent causes and conditions of unemployment. He admitted that a grave situation had

arisen, necessitating direct and immediate treatment. This temporary disloca* tion of machinery of .production had occurred throughout the world, and was not merely contiued to the United Kingdom. He admitted the unemployment was substantially in excess of anything I experienced for some time, and declared that -Mr. John Burns. President of the Local Government Board, had worked night and day to provide relief between June and October. The Local Government Board had sanctioned loans for local works of utility to the extent of £4,388.000, being much in excess of the average. Other heavy loans were like.y to be sanctioned, works being accelerated in the Metropolis and the large provincial centres. The Water Board intended to construct a reservoir at a cost of £520,000. The Government di 1 not intend to authorise local authorities to levy a penny relief rate. Tlie municipalities had not sought that power, but advised the Government to deal with the emergency on national lines. Received 22, 10.25 p.m. '

London, October 22. Mr. Asquith continued to say that the expenditure of loans would be tenfold, and local authorities would do what w is possible under the rates. The Post Office intended to employ eight thousand men extra at Christinas. The War Office would take 24,000 recruits for the special reserve during the winter, involving a cost of £200,000, and 2100 would be engaged on repair work at the dockyards. Tenders had already been accepted for new destroyer s costing nine millions, and tenders would shortly be accepted for five nnarniorcil cruisers at a cost of one and a-half millions. All this navy work would be commenced sit weeks in advance of the usual time. The expenditure of the central fund would be at least £300,000. The Government proposals made no pretence at finality. They merely afforded temporary relief. The statement was received with loud cheers and the proposals will be debated on Monday.

THE PROBLEM IN ENGLAND. London, Octolier 21. The London County Council has authorised works to absorb some of the unemployed. It will expend a sum of £281,000 on the electrification of tramway The Council, however, negatived the proposal of Captain nemphill, deputy chairman, to expend £1.000.000 on elc?trical traction and street widening. Mr. John Burns, President or the Local Government Board had askei the Council to facilitate '.he provision of useful schemes of win!it work.