UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1921, Page 5

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

LESS WORK FOR MORE MEN. • GOVERNMENT’S SHORT-TIME SCHEME. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 2, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 1. Cabinet proposes to place all tjie Government’s industrial establishments on short time in order to provide employment for the greatest possible number of work people. The Government is also asking local authorities and commercial undertakings to adopt a similar course instead of dismissing employees. The co-operation of trade unions is invited.

The Government’s proposals are based on the satisfactory working of the system in many cotton mills in Lancashire, where it was introduced after the workers had ballotted overwhelmingly in its favor, but the workers in Woolwich Arsenal, which is turning out locomotives, trucks and milk churns instead of guns, and also the Portsmouth dockyard workers, are expressing antagonism. Various trade unions are calling meetings to consider the proposals. Mr. J. R. Clynes, the prominent Labor M. predicts general hostility from trade unions, and declares that taking work away from some workers in order to give it to the unemployed is a makeshift policy, and will reduce wages be- 1 low the level of subsistence, and lessen the public’s buying power, on which the revival of trade depends. Mr. Tom Mann regards the proposals as absolutely sound in principle, and promises the heartiest support, provided a living wage is maintained.—Aus. and N. Cable Assn.