UNEMPLOYMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 July 1925, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT.

DOLEFUL ENGLAND. SUGGESTED INCREASE TURNED DOWN. dY cable-press association- -copyright. LONDON, July 7. A conference ot the National Union of Railwaymen at Southport passed a resolution charging the Government with failing to deal with the problem of unemployment. An amendment was moved demanding an increase in benefit to 30s for a man, los for his wife and 10s for each child. Mr J. H. Thomas opposed the amendment a s ridiculous. If these amounts could be paid, he asked, why was there need for anyone to work at all ? Were the majority of the railwaymen to receive ’ess for working than the unemployed? Moreover, who was going to pay for it? The problem of unemp’oyment could only be solved internationally, added Mr* Thomas, but it was absurd that there was so much unemployment when bil’ions could be spent immediately on developing the Empire. Whatever might be said of Russian methods, he would light to death against their introduction into Britain.

The amendment was defeated by 48 votes to 18. The Minister for Labour (Sir A. Steel Maitland), in the House of Commons, announced the Government’s intention to institute a committee, composed of representatives of the employers, the workers and the public, to examine the whole system of unemployment insurance.