BRITAIN'S IDLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 186, 8 August 1930, Page 7

BRITAIN'S IDLE.

LABOUR INDICTED.

Amazing Contrast With French

Position.

PROTECTION ADVOCATED.

(United F.A.-Blectric Telegraph-Copyright)

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

LONDON, August 7.

The unprotected state of the Home market and the high cost of production, rendering it impossible to meet world competition in prices, are the main reasons for Britain's loss of trade and the alarming increase in unemployment, according to the re port of the British Chambers of Commerce executive, presented to the Government, after having taken the views of hundreds of chambers throughout the country.

The report emphasises that in addition to world depression, the dislocation of business is due to the political troubles in India, China and Egypt, which have accentuated Britain's difficulties. If she maintained her share of world trade, however, the number of unemployed V ;ould be much less.

The report urges the extension of safeguarding as essential. Certain chambers suggest the encouragement of migration. Newspapers draw attention to the unemployment figures. Besides the 1 257,982 wholly unemployed there are 659,685 temporarily unemployed. 'The 93 800 normally in casual work are classified in a different way. An analysis of the situation at the end of June, when the total number of unemployed was 1,911,749) showed that half of the idle were in a few trades.

For instance, the mining group had 266,906, cotton 234,237, other textiles 186,373, building 147,082, engineering 110,806, metal manufacture 53,296, shipbuilding 62,773.

It is estimated that 60,000 of tile rccent increase are due to numbers being added to the register as a result of the new Unemployment Insurance Act, which removes the conditions and extends the facilities for benefit.

The "Morning Post" says it is impossible to acquit the Government of a large share of responsibility for the disastrous position. The figures are an indictment, to which there is no defence.

Contrasting with England's alarm,in" figures, tlie latest unemployment returns show that France has 856, of whom 655 are men and 201 women. The situations offered in July were 14,739 in excess of the number of applicants.