POVERTY OF SOUTH WALES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23045, 23 November 1936, Page 9

POVERTY OF SOUTH WALES

VALUE OF KING'S VISIT EFFORTS TO REMOVE HARDSHIPS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Nov. 20. The King's visit to South Wales has again focused attention on the situation in the depressed areas and his outspoken concern for their restoration to active life has evoked an immediate response. The visit coincided with a debate on the subject in the House of Commons and with speeches by Ministers and others, which have served to prevent the more prosperous parts of the country from overlooking the hardships that have fallen upon South Wales. * Mr Neville Chamberlain, in a speech at Leeds, pointed out that already by various schemes started in these areas the Government had undertaken commitments which would total over £8,000,000. There was no single solution of the problem and the Government was trying all possible methods by improving and expanding old industries, bringing new industries into the areas, and by transferring labour. When all that was done there would remain some for whom there was no work and who could not move. It was the Government's duty to try to make conditions better for these people. The Times says transference has taken nearly 16,000 men, 7000 women, 6400 boys, and 4600 girls out of the depressed areas in the first nine months of the current year.