BRITAIN AND HER TROUBLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 January 1931, Page 12

BRITAIN AND HER TROUBLES

A WORD FOR THE DOLE. “There are wise heads in Britain, and I shall be very much surpnsed it the country does not emerge strong from the troubles that at present appear to be besetting her. From what 1 observed and from what I was told during my sojourn in the Old Countly I believe that the unemployment and financial troubles will be overcome. 1 lam indeed optimistic about the future,” said Mr T. Ritchie, a wellknown Dunedin business man, who knows the Old Country well. “Most of the people out here appear to condemn the dole system, of relieving unemployment,” said Mr. Ritchie, coming to the subject of the economic outlook in Britain. “After what I have seen I cannot condemn the dole. It is now about fifteen years since the dole or unemployment insurance was started, as a measure to meet extremely difficult times. Employers, employees, and the Government all contribute to the fund, and it seems to be unreasonable to condemn men because they receive that which they contiacted to get. The Government incidentally has the use of some of the money thus subscribed. In Britain I saw no signs of the demoralisation which is supposed to have been brought about by the system. “The people of Britain seemed to be in a condition infinitely better than many years ago, and they take more interest in their homes. The old large tenement building with one entrance for all is dying out, and families are acquiring homes of their own. In cases where there are, say, ‘four tenant houses, the entrances. are now separate. One could usually judge the industry of a family by their garden, and from what I saw of homes in the Old Country I cay say that there are certainly no signs of demoralisation. If there had been no dole there would have been one of the greatest social revolutions dn history.” IN THE U.S.A.

Dealing with conditions in America, Mr. Ritchie stated that unemployment in the United States presented a very grave problem. Owing, no doubt, to the Stock Exchange crash, a different type of unemployed from those in Britain was found Men who had been in good positions seemed now to be destitute, and retrenchments were going on everywhere. (Altogether, unemployment was a greater tragedy in America than in Britain.

The visitor’s experience of Prohibition enforcement constituted something of an eye-opener. A friend in New York informed Mr. Ritchie that the police there could direct people to the most convenient “speakeasy,” or what amounted “simply to a public house.” ' “For some time I refused to believe my friend,” said Mr. Ritchie, “but ;in order to convince me he approached a policeman in the street and asked where exactly the “X” speakeasy was situated. This particular constable, although apparently quite willing to impart the information, was uncertain as to the exact locality, but he gave directions in a general way and we went off. My companion knew how to get the place, but in order to prove his statement he asked another policeman for directions, and being fairly near the spot by that time we were‘ almost ushered in. It was nothing more nor less than a public house in full swing. The payment for a whisky such as we get for 9d was 75 cents, or about 3s, and I was told that some of the exorbitant profit was paid over to certain authorities, who were really supposed to guard the laws. The fact that only bootleggers who pay over no commission are arrested seems sigriificant.” Mr. Ritchie done in myyab outk EOI

Mr. Ritchie paid a tribute to the work being done in Canada by Mr. J. W. Collins, New Zealand Trade Commissioner. He said that from many sources over there he had heard the highest opinions expressed concerning Mr. Collins and his work.