THE RIGHT TO WORK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3020, 17 October 1908, Page 5

THE RIGHT TO WORK.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association— py Electric Telegraph Copyright.

THE UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM.

STATEMENT BY MR JOHN BURNS.

NO LEGISLATION THIS SESSION

Received October 16, 8.10 a.m LONDON, October 15.

The President ofjjihe Government Board, the Right Hon. John Burns, in a speech at Tynemouth, said no legislation relating to the "right to work" or unemployment oroblem would be introduced during this session of Parliament, but that by next session much more would have been spent in the distress areas in the shape of nou-pauper relief than during the whole period of the Lancashire cotton famine. INCITING UNEMPLOYED. AN M.P. SUMMONED. LONDON, October 15. The police-have summoned Mr Will Thome, Labour M.P. for West Ham, on a charge of, on the 10th inst., im citing unemployed in Trafalgar squara to rush bakers' shops. WAR AGAINST POVERTY. LONDON, October 15. Mr John Burns, speaking at Newcastle, declared that hi- refused to be a party to panic legislation with regard to unemployment. War against poverty was not a skirmish, but a loig, dogged compaign, lasting perhaps a century. The "Board of Trade Labour Gazette'' states that of the 268 trade unions with a net membership of 646,511, making returns 53,163, or 8.2. per cent., were reported as unemployed at the end of July, as compared with 3.7 per cent, at the end of July, 1907. As compared with a year ago there was a decline in employment in all the principal industries, with the exception of the boot and shoe trade. Employment in this trade was fair and better than a year ago. The percentages of unemployment at the end of each month this year, with the corresponding figures for 1907, are : 1908. 1907. January ~ 6.2 4.2 February 6.4 3.9 March ' 6.9 3.6 April i 7,5 3.3 .. May 7.9 3.4 June 8.3 3.6 July 8.2 3.7 The following telegrams from the "Daily Mail's" correspondents show the state of unemployment in some of the principal provincial , towns: — Nottingham The unemployed number 5,000. Distress is so acute that the town council has opened relief worki?. The 1 .oe trade has been stagnant since thu Amreican crisis, but manufacturers are hopeful that the tide has turned. Coventry.— Many hundreds of motor and cycle hands have been out of work for months, and there is no prospect of trade activity before October. The silk and general weaving trades are also quiet, and some looms are being dispensed with. Manchester. —The outlook in the cotton trade for the coming winter Js very gloomy. Belfast. The outlook in the Irish spinning trade for the coming winter is anything but hopeful. The mills are at present working a 32-hour week instead of 55 hours, which represents the standard of a full week's work. Trade generally is very depressed, and the Belfast municipal authorities are considering the advisability of providing relief work for the unemployed. Glasgow. —Althaugh the prospects of the engineerng trade for the coming winter are slightly better, they are not sufficient to offer any relief to the unemployed. Of all branches the motor car industry presents a most hopeless outlook. Leicester.— The prospect 3 of employment in the boot and shoe trade between mw and Christmas are not good. The bad state of trade generally, and especially in the north of England, is prejudicially affecting the manufacture of boots. Middlesbrough—Prospects in iron and allied trades in the Middlesbrough district are anything but bright, and iron and steel producers are experiencing considerable difficulty in securing fresh contracts. Trade disputes have seriously interfered with local employment. At an inquest at Shoreditch on August 18th Dr. Wynn Westcott, the coroner for North east London, said that during the last fortnight he had held five inquests on men who had killed themselves while out of work and in despair.

In one of the cases the man had not earned a penny since Christmas. The widow stated that in order to pay the rent the family had deprived themselves of food, and her husband had been greatly worried over his children having nothing to eat.

In another case the man had been out of work for 15 months, and the family had lived from hand to mouth by the help of his father and mother. He was described as sober and willing, but everyone told him he had been too long out of work. He left a widow and <?ix children, the eldest nine years old.

. Get your piano whore yon can rely on quality and value. Hundreds of people aro taking advantage of the Dresden Piano Company's time payment system'and shipment upon shipment of pianos and organs is coming in month after month. "The Dresden" with years of experiense, and a remarkable turnover, is ever able to sell the best goods at the lowest market rato; But it is not satisfied with merely gaining a new customer; it aims at making another business friend— and usually does so. Now, with the- Dresden Piano Company Limited, absolute quality is guaranteed. Every piano issued is perfect material and workmanship. This reputation is guarded most jealously. Where, for example, will you iind better instruments than the Broadwood, the Lipp, the Eonisch, and the Steinway—they are indeed four great pianos. You should certainly either call on or write to the Dresden Piano Company Limited, Wellington,or you could see their Local Representative, T. B. Hunter.