UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17627, 2 December 1922, Page 17

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN.

THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. DEBATE IN HOtTSE OF COMMONS, (By Cable—Press Association—Copy-rii*'* * (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received December Ist, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 20. In the House of Commons the debate) on the Adclress-in-Beply was resumed. -«r J. R. Clynes moved the Labour Party's amendment to the Address-in-Reply, regretting that, in the face of unexampled unemployment, largely as tne result of four years' mistaken policy, for which the Government, the dominant party in the late Coalition, was responsible, there was no adequate and equitable treatment for the victims of that policy, including full recognition of what was entirely a national obligation, nor any indication of a change of policy to enable European customers to buy our goods again so as to restore international trade and stabilise international exchange. Mr Clynes adversely criticised the Premier s refusal to meet a deputation from the" unemployed marchers. He urged the necessity for developing foreign trade, together with adequate schemes of public works. Sir Montagu Barlow, Minister of Labour, said that, notwithstanding the approach of winter, he believed the- unemployment curve was slowly and steadily improving. The sum of £119,000,000 had been paid out under the Unemployment Insurance Act, of which £79,000,000 was contributed by employers and £38,000,000 by the workers. This exploded the fiction that the benefit payments were a dole, coming entirely from the taxpayers' pockets. He hoped that the construction of a great new arterial road from Manchester to Liverpool would be put in hand shortly. It was estimated to cost £3.000,000, and provide work for 20,000 men. Much labour would be absorbed in constructing other roads throughout the country. Afforestation schemes would employ 2000 men and arrears of maintenance and repair work 3500 more. The Government proposed to renew the Trad© Facilities Act for twelve months, increasing the maximum capital in respect of which guarantees would he made to £50,000,000. It was proposed to continue the present arrangements protecting the finances of Hoards of Guardians. Schemes for the development of electric power were estimated to cost £10,000,000. Mr Hastings (Labour), in his maiden speech, declared that the real remedy for unemployment was to be found in a capital levy, on which Sir Alfred Mond later poured ridicule. He made the startling suggestion that employers should be induced to engage workless men as surplus to their normal establishments by permitting the deduction of the amount of their unemployment dole from the trade union rate of wages, the Government making up ihe deduction by continuing the dole to all workers so employed. Labour members derided the proposal, but Sir Alfred Mond raised general cheers later by an appeal for £100,000,000 for Empire development, declaring that Britain must not look to Europe for a trade recovery, but to the Dominions, where two-tbirds of British trade was done before the war. The debate was adjourned.