COME TO A HEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 74, 28 March 1930, Page 7

COME TO A HEAD.

LABOUR DIFFERENCES

Dissatisfaction With Policy on

Unemployment.

MR. THOMAS CRITICISED.

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 10 a.m.)

LONDON, March 27,

The dissatisfaction of a group of Labourites with the Government's unemployment policy reached a head at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour party when, bolder measures were demanded.

In spite of Mr. Thomas' explanation a resolution was carried without division calling on the Government to submit to a meeting, a fortnight hence, its considered opinion regarding the secret Mosley-Lansbury memorandum, and stating reasons for rejecting all or any of its suggestions.

These include removing the young and aged from industry by raising the school ace and pensioning workers over b5; establishing an Imports Board to regulate imports in the. interests of tho workers and starting direct works financed from the special development fund.

Differences of opinion which have given some concern to the Cabinet have arisen between Mr. J. H. Thomas on the one hand and the three Mimetera-Mr. George Lansbury, Sir Oswald Mosley, and Mr. Tom. Johnston—who have been co-operating with him in plane to _ solve the problem of unemployment, ine trouble has been developing for some time, but was brought to a head by tlie submission of a memorandum by the three co-operating . Ministers to the Cabinet. In this memorandum they outlined plans of their own devised for dealing with unemployment. It is said that the divergence arises from the impatience of the three assistants with xhe "orthodoxy" of their chief. It is further said that co-operation between .Mr, Thomas and his colleagues has been little more than in name, and that Mr. Thomas has not made them fully cognisant of his ideas and plans. , None of the three Ministers would make any statement on the causes of disagreement, but it was said that one point in dispute had reference to the question of pensions for old people still in industry in order to make room for younger men who are out of work. On this Mr. Thomas informed the House of Commons recently that while various proposale had been considered by _ the Government no practical scheme had yet been devised. •