Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, January 7, 1921. THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1921, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, January 7, 1921. THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

Tin-: unemployment problem at Home is tin: most urgent matter at the moment., probably eclipsing even the Irish question, (lie Government is striving to ileal effectively with the issues, but it is apparent to be wholly successful, must receive sympathetic support from all. This is particularly so from the Labour Unions whose rules require to be made more elastic to fit the situation which has arisen out of the war jxiriod. The unemployed belong to the ranks of labour, and the associated body of labour should be prepared to assist their comrades in distress. There is no royal road to immediate success. Palliatives have to be tried, and these tin* Government is offering to attempt with a not ungenerous hand. The country cannot afford doles. The stringency of finance will mean strict business principals in the efforts loading up to the remedying of the difficult position. The cables this week have indicated a good deal that is being done, and late files give more details of the special effort being made. A London commercial journal remarks that it is certainly a matter for satisfaction that the Governent have definitely concluded Hint an opportunity of finding worktor many thousands of the fit ex-Service men at present unemployed is afforded by the building trades, and that their proposals relating to the construction of new arterial roads will also absorb the labour of further- large numbers during the coming winter. The one regret, is that tho coal strike lessens the power of the Government to give effect to the schemes already planned. When that- is settled, however, the practical application of their proposals would he effective in a short time. Among the schemes which the Government has had in mind are a series of proposals which have been sent to trade unions with the object of accelerating housing operations, and which provide for adult apprenticeship up to years of age, with three years’ intensive training, and actual commencement on certain forms of productive work from the very beginning. Although giving work to many thousands of fit ex-Service men, these proposals will not completely cover the ground, and the Government are now considering proposals for the further employment on the housing programme of ex-Service men of whom there are still some 187.000 out of work. An appeal is also being made to the trade unions concerned to suspend their rules so as to permit of additional men being admitted into those trades in which there has been a serious shortage of skilled labour. The trades in question are the foundry trades, iron piuldlers and railway wagon building. The shortage of the output in these branches of trade has reduced employment, and output in the engineering trades proper. This pro-

posa! is rims or lar-renohing importance. Tlio sell cmcs designed for road-making will lie particularly welcomed in the poorer quarters of the London area. These plans really anticipate a four f year’s programme of the Ministry of Transport for the making of new arterial roads and for road improvement, and at the earliest'possible moment the Government intend to put the work in band. So far as the Metropolitan boroughs are concerned, it is hoped that the London County Council will assume responsibilities for a, substantial portion of the cost of the construction of these new roads, and grants from the National Load Fund will be given to assist them. At last week’s meeting of the 1 London County Council, a Committee [ was appointed to deal with the problem. I As regards the provinces, similar schemes of road improvement will also bo put, in hand forthwith, and, again, tho policy to be followed will be that of mutual share and co-operation between the Ministry of Transport and the local* authorities. No body of persons welcomes these plans more than the unemployed themselves, and it is a thousand pities that the strike now prevents their fruition. However, ns the Prime Minister told tho House of Commons last week, the Government intend to. proceed with the plans to the best of their ability in spite of the strike, and the Cabinet will meanwhile contone to

explore other possible fields of employment.