TRADE IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 95, 16 January 1926, Page 22

TRADE IN BRITAIN

EFFECTS OF THE DOLE

MELBOURNE MAN’S IMPRESSIONS

A rather optimistic view of the industrial position in Great Britain is taken by Mr. A. W. Alcock, of Melbourne, who returned a few days ago after spending some months in Great Britain and Europe. Mr. Alcock said that British industry was certainly in a healthier state than it had been when he was in England two years ago. 'The tide had turned definitely, lie thought, and or.e might look forward to the time when tile position would become normal again In common with other business men, Mr. Alcock was very unfavourably impressed with the effect of the dole system, which, he said was sapping the manhood and self-respect of thousands of workers. On one occasion when lie saw a crowd of well-dressed young fellows hanging about he asked one of the dock men who they were. lie was told that they were young dock men getting the dole, and so long as they could continue to get it nothing would induce them to work. They would probably be at a cricket match that afternoon. It would have been better, Mr. Alcock thinks, for the Government to subsidise the factories. This would have pre. vented unemployment, and would have added to the national wealth, as something at any rate would have been produced. Too much emphasis, perhaps, had been laid on unemployment. Including the Channel Island the population of Great Britain and Ireland was about 50,000,000. In such a large population there must always be some unemployment, and always a great many men and women who were unemployable. Unemployment was decreasing, though slowly. There were about 1 161,000 unemployed and unemployable at present, which was 21,200 below the figures of,a year ago. Mr. Alcock quoted some interesting figures concerning Empire trade. Onethird of Great Britain’s purchases, he said, came from the Empire, and onequarter of her sales were made to the Empire. In regard to the overseas Dominions, and the trade with Britain, one New Zealander took more than 30 Americans; one Australian took more than 20 Americans; one South African took as much as 10 Americans; and one Canadian as much as five Americans. Unfortunately, Great Britain still depended for the bulk of her trade on nations whose impoverishment had reduced their purchasing power. . This was the cause of the trade position in Britain to-day. Emigration seemed to be the most promising remedy for industrial troubles. and it would benefit Britain and her Dominions aiikc; but there was no doubt that the dole. system hindered emigration, and possibly this was true of old-age pensions. The most noticeable industrial development in Great Britain, raid Mr. Alcock, was the increasing use of electricity. In one year the amount of current sold had shown ati increase of 19 per cent. The capita! invested in electrical undertakings in that year was £161,750,000, and this was being added to at the rate of £15.000.000 yearly. When lie was in London IMr. Alcock visited Harrod’s Store, where there is on exhibit many Empire trade products. The labelling of the Australian canned fruit showed marked improvement, and the attendant told him that the cmalitv was quite equal to that of the American. When he was leaving the slogan for Christmas was, "Christmas puddings from Empire products.