DISORDERLY UNEMPLOYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21319, 21 October 1932, Page 11

DISORDERLY UNEMPLOYED

TROUBLE IN BRITAIN REDS HELD RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEM DEALING WITH GRIEVANCES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 20. 5.55 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. W The Leader of the Labour Tarty, Mr. George Lansbury, in the House of Commons today drew attention to the unemployed disorders in London and the provinces. He said the troublo was very widespread and was due to the conditions laid down for the treatment of the unemployed by the late Government and the present one. The demonstrators had the right to advertise their condition, said Mr. Lansbury. The police should provide facilities for doing this peacefully. The means test should bo revoked. Tho Home Secretary, Sir John Gilmonr, on behalf of the Government, said that the previous day's demonstration in London was organised by the National Unemployed Workers' "Movement., which mainly was a Communist organisation whose campaign had been in progress since July, when it was started at Bristol. The police had discharged their duties under great difficulty and facing ruthless brutality. After Sir Stafford Cripps (Labour — Fast Bristol) and other Labour members had complained of (he means test, the Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, promised to make a statement as to the Government's intentions regarding that test. In the meanwhile, ho appealed to members not to find excuses for rioting or to make it easy for those who were not out to help tho unemployed, but to "kick up a row." Mr. J. Maxton (Labour— Bridgeton, Glasgow): The Prime Minister has no right to say that. Mr. Mac Donald: Nobody knows better than the honourable member that what 1 said was perfectly true. A new measure which the Government is preparing to deal with the grievances of the unemployed is not expected radically to altel- the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, but is designed for the guidance of Public Assistance Committees in assessing applicants' need of relief. There have been complaints from all parts of the country arising from lack of uniformity in the application of tho means test. This was introduced by the late Labour Government and now applies to more than 1,000,000 unemployed who are receiving transitional benefits. It is expected that the new bill will contain definite instructions for taking into account applicants' war pensions, small investments, house property or other private means when assessing tho amount of benefit.