UNEMPLOYMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16497, 1 August 1924, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT.

LABOR- MINISTER’S POLICY. “RABBITS FROM A HAT.” (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 30. In the House of Commons, Mr. Snowden outlined the Government’s unemployment. policy. He claimed that Labor had a positive remedy, but could not effect a cure- in a day. He said he would welcome the development of the canal system. He regretted that the railway companies were not showing much enthusiasm in re-equipping their lines.. The difficulty was the companies’ duties to their shareholders. If the railways were nationally controlled the position would be entirely different. The Great Western Company, during winter, was prepared to spend thirteen millions; the North Eastern Company nineteen millions; the Midland Company, 13£ mllions j the Southern Company 10 millions. The country was already spending forty millions annually upon roads. Tho Government had approved a further road programme, costing 13j millions. Drainage schemes under consideration, including the draining of the basin of the Great Ouse, are promised in an early Bill. To assist in electrical development, the Government has decided to subsidise beet sugar manufactured in Britain to the extent of 19s 9d per cwt., the subsidy to continue for ten years on a diminishing scale. The Government is assured that if a subsidy be granted six factories will be started immediately, each employing 500. In order to guard Free Trade principles the Government would impose an excise duty of 9s 9d. equivalent to a preferential Customs dutv. ,

Mr. Lloyd George twitted " the Chancellor with reserving the Labor party’s real remedy until after the next election. He expected it would consist of the abolition of private enterprise and the confiscation of all industries. The proposals on behalf of the beet sugar would leave the industry worse off than before the last Budget. Sir Worthington Evans said the works outlined in the Chancellor’s speech would not give another man additional work during the coming winter. The Government were producing rabbits from a hat. A motion to reduce the Labor Minister’s salary was rejected by 254 votes to 204.