UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

Evening Star, Issue 20688, 10 January 1931, Page 13

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

POSITION IN BRITAIN HIGH OFFICIAL’S FORECAST Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 9. (Received January 10, at 10.5 a.m.) A forecast of the course of unemployment in Britain was ottered to the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance by Air A. W. Eady, a high official of tho Ministry of Labour. He said if trade began to improve when tho number of persons unemployed stood at 2,400,000 there, was no reason to suppose that the register would lull below about 1,800,000 during tho first twelve months. Tho fall for tho lollowing two yours might bo at the rate of 200,000 per annum, and tho decline after that would bo slower. Referring to tho coal trade, he said that unless there was an increase in tho demand it was unlikely that more than 900,000 to 950.000 workers would ho required in tho industry, compared with the present insured total of 1,070.000. Tho cotton industry would not employ more than -100,000, compared with the present insured total ol 550.000. Shipbuilding, heavy engineering, and steel smelting would also have u problem of surplus personnel.