BRITAIN’S WORKLESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10511, 15 February 1928, Page 5

BRITAIN’S WORKLESS

\ i)DRESS-IN-KEPLV DEI)ATI:

PREMIER REPLIES TO CHARGE'S

PERM WENT WORK FOR SCO.C9U MEN FOUND IN THREE YEARS.

LABOR AMENDMENT DEFEATED

tX Z. and Aust. Press Assn, and Sun.) ’ < Received Fob. 14. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON. Feh. 14.

Mr J. JL dynes, resuming the debate on the Labor amendment to the Adtiress-in-Reply,. said he. feared there was trouble ahead for the cotton trade. The employers had learned nothing irom the coalfields, but were simplv repeating their propositions to reduce wages and increase working hours, which were responsible for all the industrial disputes in recent years. He urged an impartial inquiry into tin cotton trade problems. Mr MacDonald said the Government was seeking to accommodate new, industries to old, by reducing and heaping up the cost upon the backs or tlie wage earners. "We will never accept or agree to this, ho declared, hence the amendment. Mr Baldwin, replying, said there was a tendency to imagine that always the same million persons were hopelessly unemployed. The . iart was half a million of these have iilwavs been in recent employment. Within the past three years hall a million new workers found permanent emplovment, which was a marvellous tribute to the elasticity of the trade in manv parts of the country. The standard of life was appreciably -better than before the war. The International Labor Office stated thatthe real wages In Britain were nearly double those in Brussels. Rome. Vienna and Paris, and one-third above Berlin. "Me can only maintain the' standard of life by avoiding industrial disputes. A national effort is fortunately being made to tins end The real problem at the present time is the transference or workers from blank spots to better areas, which is being given close, attention.' The Premier said he hoped Laborites would co-operate in this effort. Commenting on the sparse attendance of the Oppositionists, Mr Baldwin declared: "This shows you realize that nobody lias an immediate remedv for unemployment. If the people believe your indictment true, we would be swept out of office tonight. You would win every f v-elec-tion, but you are not making herdwav at the polls. We shall bo ready to meet these, or any other chargor, when the Labor whips think it will be decent foi us to have a general election." - - The Labor amendinent was defeated by 293 votes to l‘L • SUGGESTED "OUT” IN CIVIL SERVICE STAFFS. Mr Gretton. on behall of the economy group of Ministerialists, moved ■in amendment regretting that the Government have not promised econornv and relief, from taxation. Lie admitted that the cost of the fighting forces' had substantially diminished except the Air Force, but the civilian staff's in most departments were swollen. . . Sir Frank. Nelson, in seconding the motion, suggested that a select coinluittee under the chairmanship.of the head of one of the big five banks, might, discover redundancies in the Government- staff’s. The amendment was lost by y--‘ votes to 84. five Ministerialists voting with the minority.