BRITAIN’S UNEMPLOYED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18633, 18 February 1935, Page 8

BRITAIN’S UNEMPLOYED

REDUCTION FORESEEN MR. CHAM BEE LAIN CONFIDENT VIGOROUS SPEECH (British Official Wireless.) Bee. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 15 The debate in the House of Commons on unemployment was concluded by a vigorous, confident speech from Mr. Neville Chamberlain, who declared that no reason existed why the coming months should not see a very considerable reduction in the present numbers of unemployed. Last month’s rise, he pointed out, was 'the product of normal seasonal causes and likely to be absorbed again before long. In the meanwhile there were 700,000 more people at work than there were three years ago. Although the employable population had increased by ],000,000 since 1920, in the last, three years the number of those unemployed for over one year had declined, ami he estimated the “hard core” of unemployment at between 400,000 and 500,000."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer referred to week-end rumours that a general election was pending', and gave them a firm denial. lie maintained that the most, effective contribution to recovery could be made through stimulating trade. Mir. Chamberlain said that Britain’s very remarkable figures showing the advance in exports were unequalled in the world, except- by Japan. Continued success must; depend on the mainlenance of a policy ol cheap money and sound finance.