UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 19

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN

SET-BACK TO DIRECT ACTIONISTS. LONDON, February 23. The direct actionists had"'another setback at the Labour Conference on unemployment, an overwhelming majority : supporting pressing the demands by constitutional action. Mr J. R. Clynes, M.P. {Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party), denounced the Government’s failure to take adequate measures to relieve the position. If Parliament was unable to solve the problem, they were justified, he said, in calling on the industrial forces to deal with the situation. Mr J. 11. Thomas, M.P., contended that Parliament was the only body capable of dealing with the problem. Referring to a suggested sympathy strike, he said they would help the unemployed more by giving one day’s pay. Respecting a g’eneral strike, Mr Thomas asked if they or any sane trade union official or member of the Tank and file would suggest such a remedy. It would increase unemployment and dislocate trade and industry. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. LONDON, February 23. The House of Commons devoted a sitting to another unemployment debate arising put of Dr Macnamara’s Bill to increase the insurance payments. Mr J. R. Clynes (Labour) urged that 18s was an affront. The benefit could be doubled by means of a State loan. Sir M. Barlow replied that the trade unions had never paid more than ,15s weekly, but usually 10s or 12s, so that the Government’s 18s was not ungenerous. The Bill extending for a further 15 weeks the. unemployment insurance, was read a second time. BENEFIT PAYMENT INCREASED. LONDON, February 24. In committee on the Unemployment Bill, Air J. R. Clynes (Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party) moved an increase in the benefit to 40s for the head of a family and 25s for the others. This, he said, was not an extravagant figure, as 40s was only equal to 15s before the war. It was the business of the Government to find the money. Dr Macnamara (who is in charge of the Bill) said such a scheme would hopelessly bankrupt the Insurance Fund. Sir Donald Maclean (Labour) said he could not vote for 40s, as it would wipe out the whole scheme, but he favoured 20s. Mr G. N. Barnes (Labour), Sir Edward Carson, and others urged the Government to increase the benefit to 20s. Dr Macnamara consented, and Mr Clynes withdrew his amendment. In the House of Commons a further amendment raised the women’s benefit from 15s to 16s. The Unemployment Bill, a 6 amended was reported to the House.