BRITISH TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 72, 28 March 1929, Page 9

BRITISH TRADE

SIGNS OF , IMPROVEMENT

FEWER UNEMPLOYED

British Official Wireless. - ETJGBY, 26th March. During his address at the annual meeting of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Mordey said that there was a more general demand for coal at Home and abroad. Exports of iron and steel manufactures increased by 500,000 tons last month, and four of the largest South Wales steel works were reopened now for several months. The South American markets had been recaptured and great strides were being made in th Mediterranean and other markets. During the Rebate on unemployment in the House of Commons, Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, Minister of Labour, said that the principal causes, of the present unemployment were the decline in emigration, which since the war was 350,000 below norm,al, and the decline in foreign trade, which was estimated to have lessened the employment capacity of British industry by between 700,000 and 800,000. The Government aimed at stimulating trade by preserving * the Home market through safeguarding and helping industry to regain the foreign market by the derating scheme. He added that this week's unemployment figures would show a drop due entirely to improvement in trade. ' , On 18th March the total number of ■unemployed in Great : Britain was 1,182,500. This was 86,339 less than tho week before, but 116,423 more than a year ago. The Lord Mayor of London has decided shortly to close the fund for relief of the distressed in mining areas, Donations to the, fund >at present amount to £770,000, which, with an equal contribution from the Government, brings its total to £1,540,000.