HOMELAND UNEMPLOYMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1930, Page 7

HOMELAND UNEMPLOYMENT

RELIEF EFFORTS AUGMENTED [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, June 18. Important steps have been taken, foreshadowing a. more vigorous national effort to reduce unemployment before the winter. After an appeal made by Mr MacDonald, the Conference of' municipal authorities at the Guildhall, appointed a committee to co-operate with the Government . in speeding up relief schemes. A similar conference is being held in Edinburgh shortly. Mr MacDonald in his appeal, likened the present situation to the situation after the Napoleonic Wars, emphasising that the position was primarily due to a world financial crisis, and declaring that nobody had contributed more to the solution of the problem than Mr J. H. Thomas. He added that Mr Thomas had now. been transferred to the Dominions. Office in order to carry on precisely the work he had done in recent months. Mr Thomas himself later told a deputation of manufacturers that the Government would enter the Imperial and Economic Conference “ready for the fullest and frankest discussion of all methods of encouraging Imperial trade.” LIBERAL-LABOUR CO-OPERATION. LONDON, June 18. All of the newspapers reprint the substance of the “Daily Herald’s” exclusive interview with Mr Lloyd George, which is being much discussed in the lobbies. The Conservative press suggests that though the word itself is carefully avoided, that Mi - Lloyd George is again seeking foi’ a coalition, to .which Labour will not consent. Labour circles treat Mr Lloyd George’s suggestions with caution, and they point out that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald is not likely to exceed his former appeals for the Opposition’s co-operation, always insisting that the Government should retain the initiative and the responsibility for decisions. The Labour Party meets to-day, at the request of 70 of the members when there will be renewed demands, like Sir Oswald Mosley's, for an active unemployment policy. The “News and Chronicle,” in an editoria, says: If the Government is willing to consult the Liberals on the unemployment measures, they will be assured of a firm majority. It says that no question of a coalition arises. STATEMENT IN COMMONS. RUGBY, June 18. In the course of the unemployment debate in the Commons, Mr Lloyd George said the Prime Minister had indicated that he was prepared to put into operation an invitation which lie extended to both parties some weeks ago to co-operate with the Government in the solution of what was after all a. national problem. “I have accepted the invitation and the whole of the conditions laid down by the Primo Minister.”

Mr Lloyd George added he agreed that tho mere expenditure of money upon things which were not in themselves productive would not only leave tho problem unsolved, but would aggravate it. Money ought to be spent with a view to re-conditioning and reequipping the nation.