Unemployment in Britain

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7037, 22 December 1932, Page 7

Unemployment in Britain

OVER-OPTIMISM COST 3 £19,000,000 British Official Wireless. RUGBY, Dec. 20. A national vote of £19,000,000 on behalf of unemployment, passed by the House of Commons last night is mainly xequired for the payment of transitional benefits under tho Insurance Fund and in order to maintain a continued Balance of the Insurance Fund. This increase upon the original estimate is in part a sequel to a some■what optimistic overestimate of employment. It was pointed out by tho Minister of Labour, Sir Henry Betterton, that tho world deterioration which showed signs of being arrested when the original estimates were framed had progressively continued and the expected improvement had not materialised. He emphasised tho point that Britain bore the cost of unemployment without bojTowing. He added that Great Britain almost alone among nations was maintaining its position in face of a formidable economic crisis. The Supplementary Estimates also included the Government’s contribution of £16,000 toward voluntary movements, which have extended remarkably during recent months to help tho unemployed in finding useful and healthy means of occupying their time. The Prime Minister in a broadcast address last night made an earnest appeal to the public for support of these activities. He recalled that, tho Government had invitod the national Council of Social Service to extend it 3 organisation and co-operate with tho work of numerous other bodies engaged in the same field. He emphasised that it was not an appeal for charity, but a national attempt to find new ways of employment 'and instil into people the spirit of co-operation and independence.