UNEMPLOYMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19239, 1 August 1924, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

POSITION IN BRITAIN. LABOUR'S RELIEF PROPOSALS. .SPEECH BY THE CHANCELLOR. Plf Jui»ociaticm—By Talecmpb— OoprriNVl, LONDON, July 3L (Received July 31, at 9.50 p.m.) In the House of Commons Mr Philip Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer) outlined the Government’s unemployment policy. • He claimed that Labour had a positive remedy, but it could not effect a cure in a day. Ho said he would welcome the development of the canal system. Ho regretted that the railway companies were hot showing much enthusiasm in reequipping their lines. The difficulty was the companies’ duty to their shareholders, if the railways were nationally controlled the position would be very different. The Great Western, during the winter, was prepared to spend £13,000,000; the North-Eastern £19,000,000; the Midland £13,600,000; and the Southern £10,000,000. The country was already spending £40,000,000 a year upon its roads, and the Government had approved a further reading programme, costing £13,600,000. Drainage schemes were under consideration, including the draining of the basin of the Great Ouse. Ho promised an early bill to assist electrical development. The Government had decided to subsidise the beet sugar manufactured in Britain to the extent of 19s 9d per hundredweight, the subsidy to for 10 years on a diminishing scale. The Government had been assdred that if a subsidy were granted six factories would be started immediately, each . employing 600 persons. In order to guard Freetrade principles the Government would impose an excise duty of 9s' 9d, equivalent to a preferential customs duty. Mx Lloyd George twitted the Chancellor with reserving the Labour Party’s real remedy until after the next election. He expected that it would consist of the abolition of private enterprise and the Confiscation of all industries. The proSala on behalf of the beet sugar would re the industry worse off than before the last Budget. Sir L. Worthingtoo-Evans said tot the works outlined in the Chancellor’s speech %ould not give another man additional work during to coming winter The Government was producing rabbits from a hat. ■ The motkm to reduce the Minister of Labour’s salary was reiected by 254 votes to 204.'—A. and N.Z. Cable.