DEPRESSED AREAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22583, 23 November 1936, Page 9

DEPRESSED AREAS

KING'S EFFECTIVE APPEAL SPEEDY PUBLIC RESPONSE British Wireless RUGBY, Nov. 20 The King's visit to South Wales has again focussed attention on the situation in the depressed areas, and his outspoken concern for their restoration to active life has evoked an immediate public response. The visit coincided with a debate on tho subject in the House of Commons, and with speeches by Ministers and others which have served to prevent more prosperous parts of tho country from overlooking the hardships that havo fallen upon South Wales. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a speech at Leeds, pointed out that already, by various schemes started in theso areas, tho Government has undertaken commitments which will total more than £'8.000,000. There was no single solution of the problem, and the Government was trying all possiblo methods, such as improving and expanding old industries, and bringing new industries into theso areas and by transferring labour. When all that was done there would remain some for whom there was no work and who cotdd not move. It was the Government's duty to try to make conditions better for those peoplo. The Times says tho transference has taken nearly 16,000 men, 7000 women, 6400 boys and 4600 girls out of the depressed areas in tho first nine months of the current year.