UNEMPLOYMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 513, 21 May 1909, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT.

AN IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT MEASURE' LABOUR EXCHANGES. WORK OR BENEFIT PAY: COMPULSORY CONTRIBUTIONS. (by Txi,FQiiArn—rnßss association—copraiquT.l (Roc, May 20, 11.65 p.m.) .' ... London, May 20. In tho House of Commons the President of tho Board of Trade, Mr. ' Churchill, explained the terms of a Bill—which ho wjll introduce. to-day—to establish early nejt year a systqm of labour exchanges. The cost of the system will bo £200,000 per annum at the outset, and after that £170,000 per annum. Clearing-houses: Advisory Committees. The country will be diyided ipto ten divisions, eaoh with' a clearing-house, and London supplying a national clearing-house, It is proposed to establish between thirty and forty first-class exchanges in towns of a hundred thousand inhabitants and upwards, and forty-five second-class exchanges in towns of between 50,000 and 100,000; also a number of aqb-qffipes in smaller towns. ;Advisory Committees Ayrl) bp appointed in the chief centres, on which workmen and employers will meet in equal numbers, with impartial permanent officials and chairmen. The scheme provides for compulsory con tributqry insurance against unemployment. . Scope, Contributions, and Benefits. Mr, Churchill next explained that tho Act would become operative iij lOllfpr selegtod trades representing two and a quarter million adults and covering the worst half of tho field of unemployment,. Slightly under sixpence por week per man woujd be raised by contributions from workmon, employers, and the State: ■ Men going to the exchanges would he given a job, or would receive benefit pay.- ' "., .Mr. F. E. Smith (a Unionist whq made a mark with his speeches on the' Trade Disputes . Bill) approved the measure. Mr. A. Henderson (Labour Leader) warmly thanked Mr.' Churchill and that the Labour party's Right to Work Bill Tvquld be parried by instalments,