Britain’s Industrial Problem

Evening Star, Issue 19855, 2 May 1928, Page 4

Britain’s Industrial Problem

LONDON, April 30. Mr E. Shinwell (Labour), in committee, in the House of Commons, moved to reduce the Ministry_ of Labour Estimates as a protest against the Government’s callous disregard of the unemployed problem, which, be said, was unparalleled in Britain’s history. The true state of affairs had nor been disclosed, and it was much worse than tho official statistics showed. The Government passed the Eight Hour Act in the interests of increased coal production, and now the coal owners wero demanding restrictions on the output. The. industrial Transference Board had not Found work for a single man. Though there were 50,000 unemployed in South Wales; it had sent only 221 to training centres. The Government had firoducecl the new problem of ibo dereict mining town. Sir Robert Horne (C.) said that nobody bad a remedy for unemployment. What was Labour’s remedy for. the importation of commodities which was causing unemployment in Britain? Flo emphasised the opportunities for migrants in Australia, and New Zealand. Air R. C. AVallhead (Labour! ; Lei us all go there. Sir Robert Horne: If I wero young enough I would be glad to lead you thither. Mr A. M'Laren: Why don’t you marry? Sir Robert Horne: I have not your attractions or I might have done. The chairmanship of a matrimonial agency was not included in the functions of the Ministry of Labour. The Ministry ought to pay particular attention to the emigration of juveniles. There were 500,000 more people employed in Britain than was the case before tho war, but there were more people than could ever find work. Tt was Britain’s responsibility and bonnden duty to find opportunities overseas, and get rid of the tragic case of youths who were unemployed from the moment of leaving school. Sir R. S. Hudson (C.) said that hundreds of men in his constituency had refused to go to training centres. Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck (C.) said that the Government’s refusal to ratify the Washington _ Eight Hours Convention gravely injured British workers. Mr C. Edwards (Labour) said that if they approached tho problem in a nonparty spirit, as they did with the Prayer Book, a solution could be found. They would have to consider pensioning the older men in order to give the younger men a chance. Miss Margaret Bondfield (Labour) said that Labour profoundly believed that Capitalism had broken down because it could not secure for the people certainty of a decent standard of living. Unless the country .tackled the problem by a great national co-opera-tive effort' it would sink down steadily. Mr H. B. Betterton (Under-Secre-tary for Labour) pointed out that the Government had placed 500,000 more men in industry than when Labour was in office. The motion for a reduction, was defeated by 227. to 114. —Australian Press /.SBOciation-United Service.

The Unemployed Question Discussed by the Commons Exhibition in Sydney in 1932 The Busy Prince of Wales Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.