NO WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1920, Page 5

NO WORK.

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND, {WORST FOR TWELVE YEARS, EX-SOLDIERS IDLE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received LJsc. 22, 7,40 p.m. London, Dec. 22. Dr. T. J. MacNamara, Minister of Labor, moving the second reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill in the House of Commons, said unemployment on Decem- ■ ber 10 comprised 265,000 ex-service men, i 148,000 civilians and 131,000 women, apart from those unregistered. Dr. MacNamara said this was below the record of sdme pfe-war times, but the cost of HVing was how 167 per cent higher, and hence the problem was more gfim and acute.. At least half of the Unemployed were young and active men, to whom the country was under profound obligations, who wanted work and not doles. The Minister detailed the offer to the building trade unions. The Government had also appointed a special committee, Lord St. Davids presiding, to whom had been given £3,000,000 for the purpose of agisting local authorities in carrying out approved schemes on behalf of the unemployed, other than housing and ro'admSking, of a remunerative character. A deputation of Labor members had, he said, that week advocated the setting aside of fotir weeks as a qualifying period for benefit under the unemployment insurance, the provision of useful j work in various Government departments, the making of grants by distress commis'-eei), ftfid the revival of out Of work donations for civilians. * Cabinet had decided to accept the proposal for setting aside fottr weeks as a qualifying ] period, and the system would also in a short time be introduced into Government establishments, but a continuance of civilians out of work donations was neither feasible nor desirable. England, he added, was no* experiencing the wofst period of unemployment for the past twelve years.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Asm. GLOOMY PICTURE OF EOTOPE CONDITIONS OF BANKRUPTCY. ENGLAND'S PERIL OF NO WORK. Received Dee. 22, 9.45 p.m. London, Dec. 22. During the unemployment debate in the House'of Commons, the Premier painted a gloomy picture of Continental conditions, especially in Central Europe. He declared that unless the world was restored to more normal conditions the problem of unemployment in Britain will be past grappling with. Our customers, he said, were insolvent; Europe cannot buy. We are as a prosperous shop whose.neighbours have gone bankrupt. Amongst suggestions under can- | sideration was the sale of Government wool to Central Europe on a credit system which would enable trade to resume. The Premier startled the House by saying he would like to see a scheme of emigration to the Dominions considered in conjunction with the Dominions for men unable to find permanent work in England for some time to come.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. — j GOVERNMENT'S AID. . ONLY PARTIAL SOLUTION, Received Dec. 22, 7.50 p.m. London, Dec. 22. Discussing the Governments policy for the relief of unemployment, Mr. j. R. Clynes, M.P., said the proposals laid before the Hou=e would not provide a com- ' plete solution, but they were a contribution towards meeting a serious situa-tion.—Aus.-N.H. Cable Assn. ' AUSTRALIANS SEEK HELP. ASSISTANCE OVER CHRISTMAS. ' Received Dec. 22, 7.50 p.m. London, Dec. 21. Scores of discharged soldiers are besieging Australia House daily requesting assistance over Christmas. Many of the applicants are recently from Australia. The recipients already number some (hundreds.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Afisn.