THE UNEMPLOYED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 128, 12 March 1930, Page 5

THE UNEMPLOYED.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. WORLD CAUSES TO BLAAIE. United Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, Alarch 10. In the House of Commons this afternoon, Air Lloyd George initiated a debate on the question of unemployment. Added* interest was given to the debate by a statement from the Liberal Party headquarters which, referring to the intention to challenge the Government, says: “The period of ignoring this question is now definitely at an end.” Air Lloyd George maintained that the time had come for a very candid and serious review of the whole position, not so much in the spirit of criticism or censure, but if possible in the spirit of helpfulness, and if he might call it so,, in the spirit of converting the House into a Council of State. Hq thought the House of Commons ought to shoulder its supreme responsibility in the matter and insist on action being taken. Everyone would admit that the Minister in charge of the unemployment problem had worked hard, but so far as his remedies were concerned, lie had taken too narrow limits in the broad view of his responsibilities. All* Lloyd George advocated a big scheme of road development as the most useful means of employing labour. Air J. H. Thomas (Minister in charge of Unemployment) replying, admitted that the unemployment figures were bad, but the Government was in no way responsible. There was a world reaction in trade. Germany had 3,258,00(1 unemployed, Italy had 4Q8.000 wholly and 21,000 partially unemployed, while in America, one . Senatorspoke of 0,000,000 unemployed, and another put the figures at 3,000,000. Based on the same data as our figures. Air Thomas believed the figure would be nearer 0,000,000. The real cause of the abnormal situation in Britain was the slump in raw material. For tlip last six months cotton had been falling, with the result that no manufacturer would take the responsibility of giving orders. Compared with 12 months ago, there was an increase in Lancashire alone, of 140,000 unemployed. What was the state of the Cotton industry was equally true of wool. It was also true of silver. He pointed out the repercussion of the drop in the price of silver on the Lancashire cotton trade, which bought , raw material on a gold basis and sold manufactured articles to countries on the silver standard, with the resulting depreciation of £3O in every £IOOO. Repercussions of the recentl slump in America were also being felt here. AVo were also feeling the effects of the new Australian tariff.

Mr Thomas gave an account of the schemes already sanctioned by his department to provide employment. They involved £50.000,000 in developing railways, docks and harbours, water supplies, electricity and roads. There were factors, however, which gave encouragement. He believed the reduction in the Bank rate would he helpful, and he pointed to the better aspect of the shipbuilding industry, which produced last year 56 per cent, of the world tonnage, and which showed a decrease of 8000 unemployed for the year. Mr Thomas referred to a circular from a city firm advising people to transfer their money abroad. “I say that anyone guilty of that conduct ought himself to leave the country: It would he better without him,” he declared.

LIBERAL LEADER’S MODERATION SURPRISE FOR THE HOUSE. LONDON, March Jl. Members of the House of Commons are surprised at the moderation of Mr Lloyd George’s speech, and are asking wlmt has happened to cause him to change his tone. There were no signs of a relentless attack against the Labour Government ; on the contrary, while urging Mr Thomas to strong action, lie pointed out that Britain was not a crumbling nation ; that we still had the biggest export trade ; that the masses of the people were better off than ever, and that the retail trade was doing well. The result was that the debate fizzled out. Tt was disclosed that lie sent a message to a meeting of Liberal members of Parliament held later to discuss tactics for the Coal Mines Bill, saving that he was suffering from a chill.