BRITISH UNEMPLOYMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17661, 23 December 1920, Page 7

BRITISH UNEMPLOYMENT.

PREMIER'S GLOOMY VIEW. EMIGRATION A SOLUTION. SPEECH STARTLES HOUSE. By Te!<";raph- l'r<">s Association—Copyright. (Received 9.3 xi.ru.) A. »ci N'Z LONDON. i>ec. 21. Sprakwie in the House of Commons on the prohoim of unemployment, Mr. Lloyd lieorgo startled the House by saying that he would like to see a scheme ot emigration t,. the Dominions considered in conjunct'.l'n with the Dominions, for men unable to find permanent work in this co'.■J 1 !'';•' '"°r pome tune. |'h« Minister for Labour. Dr. T, J. Mai-namara. moving the second reading ~f the Consolidated Fund Bill in the Hun?' 1 of Commons, gave the following rijuie« lor unemployment on December 10 - ■ Is <•*;•% 'ce men . . . . 265.000. ' .!■ liaiis 148.000. Womei 131,000. Ihe.se figures, he added, did not include (h'i-f who had not registered. The amount of present unemployment was he'i'W that which had obtained at times before the war. but the cost of living was now 167 nrr cent, higher; hence the problem was more grim and acute. At least half the men out of work were young and active. The country was under a profound obligation to them and thev wanted work not doles. Dr. Macnamara detailed his offer to the buildinc trade unions. The Government also had apjximted a special committee, lord St. Davids presiding, to whom had been given i 10.000.000 for the purpose of assisting local authorities to carry out approved schemes on behalf of the unemployed, other than housing and road making, of a remunerative character. A deputation of Labour members last week had advocated setting aside the j.->ur weeks' qualifying period for benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act, the provision of useful work in various Covernment departments, the making of grants hv distress committees and the revival of out of work donations for civilians. 'Qie Cabinet had decided to accept the proposal to set aside the four weeks" qualifying period. A system of short time would also be introduced in Government establishments, but the continuance of out of work donations for workers was neither feasible nor desirable. The country was now experiencing the worst period of unemployment in the last 12 years. Mr. J. R. Clynes, (Labour) said that the Governments proposals were not a complete solution, but a contribution to meeting a serious situation. Ihe Prime Minister drew a gloomy picture of Continental conditions, especially m Central Europe Unless the world v ere restored to more normal conditions, lie said, the problem of unemployment in Britain would be beyond grappling with. Our customers are insolvent. Europe cannot buy. We are a prosperous shop, whose neighbours have become bankrupt. Arrwmg suggestions under consideration was th-e sale of Government wool to Central Europe on tihe credit system, ■which would enable trade to resume.