THE DEPRESSED AREAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23136, 11 March 1937, Page 9

THE DEPRESSED AREAS

REHABILITATION MEASURES DEFENDED BY MINISTER (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Mar. 9. In a speech in which he explained and defended the Government’s proposals for the amendment and extension of the special measures of rehabilitation already applied to regions where particularly severe unemployment obtains, the Minister of Labour (Mr Ernest Brown) announced in the House of Commons a number of promising developments along the lines which the Government was hoping to encourage—namely, establishment of new lighter industries offering a broader basis for employment. He informed the House that in South Wales a firm was arranging to set. up a glass factory and another firm a biscuit factory, while a sewing machine factory at Merthyr, an engineering works at Aberdare, and a reinforced concrete factory at Port Talbot had also been planned. Negotiations had also been proceeding between the Government, Lord Nuffield’s trustees and Low Temperature Carbonisation, Ltd., for the establishment of a “ coalite ” low temperature carbonisation plant on the southern outcrop of the South Wales coalfield. The total capital involved in these six new undertakings in South Wales will be about £1,000,000, and they would ultimately give employment to 3000 people. Mr Brown also announced that the Government proposed to appoint a Royal Commission to make an authoritative and comprehensive study of the problems raised by the southward drift of industry and of the question of location of industry as a whole.

DEBATE ON PROCEDURE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Mar. 9. (Received Mar. 10, at 5.5 p.m.) The question of procedure which was raised by Mr C. R. Attlee in the House of Commons led to a debate which occupied the whole session. The occasion was the money resolution for the • Special Areas Bill, and the Opposition complained that it was drawn so tightly that it would restrict freedom of debate by making it impossible to move any amendment. The Attorney-general (Sir Donald Somervell), in replying on the debate, admitted the importance of the general issue raised and the necessity of keeping under constant review the procedure of the House and the working of that procedure. He said the Government would be prepared to consider the matter, and if, after discussion with the Leader of the Opposition, such course seemed desirable, they would set up a further inquiry by a select committee into the working of the Standing Orders. The announcement was received 'with cheers.