LABOUR WANT WORK OR ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume 49, Issue 7624, 18 February 1921, Page 3

LABOUR WANT WORK OR ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE

GRAVITY OP BRITISH SITU A TION STAGGERING.

.Jy .telegraph--, leas Association—Copyright Australian SJ Z. Cable Association. Rcc. Feb. 18, 8.45 a.m. ’ Loudon, Fob. 15. Mr. J. R. dynes, leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, in moving an amendment to the Ad-dress-in-Reply, in the House of Commons, said the gravitv of the situation was staggering. Unemployment was worse than in December and Parliament was faced with a declaration that terrible as things were nothing could be done by legislation to make them better. 1 his was the most callous cancellation of solemn pledges. Mr. dynes said the Labour Party’s demand was' for work or adequate maintenance. The hint that there was to be some extension of national insurance was insufficient. The situation was so serious that it could not be dealt with properly by means of insurance alone. Mr. dynes declared that the Labour Party was in favour of refusing doles, cither to men or women, who refused to do appropriate work when provided. The party did not support shirkers. In view of the failure of the employers to find remunerative and productive work it was the duty of the Government to do so. EMPLOYMENT ON RELIEF WORKS. Rec. Feb. 18, 9 a.m. London, Feb. 16. Dr. Macnamara, Minister of Labour, stated although it was necessary to alleviate hardships arising from unemployment the Government also had a farreaching duty to re-establish British industry and thus bring about permanent prosperity. The Government’s policy had been to see that relief woi’k was useful and* productive, A scheme, costing £10,500,000 in connection with roads was how giving employment to 35,000 extra men. The Ministry of Health’s scheme in connection with laying out building sites, at a cost of £5,000,000, was employing others, Altogether ■ the productive schemes were finding employment for 70,000 meifr Referring to the amendment in the Employment Act, Dr. McNamara said the contribution would be raised from lOd. to the employer paying an extra penny and the Government the balance. Rec. Feb. 18, 9.55 a.m. London, Feb. 16. Dr. Macnamara said the unemployed ex-service men received £1 weekly. The refusal of the binding trade unions to absorb 50,000 men was costing the country £SO, 000 weekly.