UNEMPLOYMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1921, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT.

POSITION IN BRITAIN,

APPEAL TO THE PREMIER.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN, By Telcjraph.—Preu Assn.— Copyrifht. Received Sept. 23, 720 p.m. London, Sept. 23. Official: Mr. Lloyd George met the London Mayors at a Gairloch hotel. They pointed out that the problem of unemployment was a national one, and should be shouldered by the central Government. They emphasised the great burden imposed on the ratepayers, especially in the poorer parte of London. Mr. Lloyd George, replying, said the problem had received his earnest consideration, and he had summoned his Ministers from London to explore possible means of alleviating the distress. He emphasised the point that the central Government could not shoulder the burden alone, and co-operation between the Government and the local authorities, manufacturers and organised Labor was essential if we were to get at grips with the problem. The Premier said he was taking steps in this direction immediately. Parliament, however, must be consulted, and when it met he would make a statement regarding the whole position. In the meantime a Cabinet committee was taking steps to assist the boards of guardians, who were seriously emharassed through unemployment, to obtain loans, for meeting which the guardians would be responsible,—AUS.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A NATIONAL PROBLEM. VIEWS OF BRITISH LABOR. PROPOSALS TO MEET POSITION. Received Sept. 23, 720 p.m. London, Sept. 22. The Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress and the executive committee of the Labor Party issue an official report which states that unemployment is a national problem, requiring for adequate treatment a national policy. The Government’s proposals to dace the main burden on local authorities are indefensible, because they convert an obvious national duty into a local responsibility. Widespread wages reductions and an attack on the trade board system are short-sighted methods of dealing with the problem. Wages reductions are not likely to increase production, but may lead to an industrial conflict, adversely affecting the output. The report suggests that the Government ought to assist to stimulate production by placing substantial orders for staple manufactures like woollens and agricultural machinery produced at minimum agreed profits, the Government exporting same on credit. The report claims that this will maintain the people’s morale and efficiency, and keep the machinery going pending a trade revival It is also'claimed Wtt this will save enormous expenditure on unemployment benefits and poor relief. —Aub.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

REDUCTION OF RELIEF.

ANOTHER RATE PROTEST.

Received Sept. 23, 7.20 p.m.

London, Sept. 23. The Southwark guardians are dropping the scale of relief to 8s weekly for each child after a fortnight’s trial, and will now deal with each case on its merits.

The Bethnall Green guardians, by 16 .votes to 10, decided to refuse to levy «wmty council, police and other rates for ozx months. Several Labor members protested against the council following in |he footsteps of Poplar.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable jfissn. DEMONSTRATIONS ORGANISED. London, Sept. 22. It is proved that the turbulent minority of unemployed in Britain has been deliberately exploited by the Moscow Reds through a small group of agitators whose names are well known to the London police. They wiH find it definitely established that six men have been systematically teaching Communism and preaching violence to the London unemployed, organising marches and other demonstrations. The agitators represent the International Unemployed Union, which acts under the orders of the Moooow Western Secretariat. Zinovietff recently instructed the Secretariat to <ive possible help to the Unemployed Union as an efficacious means to complete the overthrow of capitalism.