UNEMPLOYMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 August 1924, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT

SITUATION IN BRITAIN. THE POLICY OF LABOUR. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT LONDON, July 30. In the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. P. Snowden) outlined the Government's unemployment policy. He claimed that Labour had a positive remedy, but could not effect a cure in a day. He said he would welcome the development of the canal system, and regretted that railway companies were not showing much enthusiasm in reequipping their lines. The difficulty was the companies’ duty to their shareholders. If the railways were nationally controlled the position would be entirely different. . The Great Western Company, during the winter, was prepared to spend £13,000,000, the North-Eastern Company £19,000,000, the Midland Company £13,000,000 and the Southern Company £10,(XX),000. 'Hie country was already spending £40.000,000 annually u-poii roads, and the Government had approved of a further road programme costing £13,500,000. Drainage schemes were also under consideration, including the draining of the basin of the Great Ouse.

The Government had promised an early Bill to assist electrical development, added Mr. Snowden, and had decided <to subsidise the beet sugar manufacturers of Britain to the extent of 19s 9d per cwt. The subsidy would continue for ten years on a diminishing scale. The "Government had been assured that if a. subsidy were granted, six factories would be started immediately, each employing 0.00 hands. In order to guard free trade principles, the Government would impose an excise, duty of 9s 9a, which would be equivalent to a. preferential Customs duty. Mr. Lloyd George (Lberal) twitted the Chancellor with reserving the Labour Party’s real remedy until after the next election. He expected it would consist of the abolition of private enterprise and the confiscation of all industries. The proposals on behalf of beet sugar would leave the industry worse off than before the last Budget.

vSir L. Worthington-Evans (Oonservative) said the works outlined in the Chancellor’s speech would not give another man additional work during the coming winter. The Government was producing rabbits from the hat. A motion to reduce the salary of the Minister for Labour was rejected bv 204.v0t.es to 204. J y