BRITISH POLITICS

Southland Times, Issue 18078, 3 May 1919, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

UNEMPLOYMENT DONATION. NECESSARY OWING TO THE BLOCKADE. 3,000,000 WORKERS RE-ABSORBED. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 1. In the House of Commons Sir R. Horne (Minister for Labour) defended the unemployment donations of which the estimate for the current financial year was £25,000,000. The main reason of unemployment was the deliberate policy of maintaining the blockade. The country' could not say to the unemployed that they should not receive compensation owing to conditions which were necessary' to achieve the full fruits of victory. A million were drawing benefits of whom 250,000 were, demobilised soldiers. The latter were guaranteed for a year against unemployment. A hundred thousand workers in the cotton trade were drawing benefits. The scheme had been greatly abused, but there was little foundation for criticism. It was intended to appoints a committee to enquire into the administration of the scheme. The greatest difficulty was the question of domestic servants. After munition work, girls would not return to domestic service. Unemployment donations to 17,000 girls had been cancelled. Industry had reabsorbed since the armistice three million workers, 80 per cent, of whom were exsoldiers. A most hopeful feature of the new Labour arrangement was the formation of industrial councils to bring the workers and employers together to negotiate. Thirty-one existed, covering two million workers. Twenty-two drafting committees covered another million. A member (name unstated) thought the unemployment donation could be justified as a temporary expedient, but it could not be maintained in order to preserve industrial peace. Labour was anxious owing to the Government’s failure to provide employment. There might be a serious position next winter unless something was done. He deplored that Sir R. Horne had not hinted at an alternative policy to donations He urged the Government to explain why the blockade was maintained. It was a blockade of ourselves, causing unemployment and checking industrial expansion. Sir F. G. Banbury urged the stoppage of donations at an early date, except for exsoldiers’ donations. They were ruinous and demoralising. THE PREFERENCE PROPOSALS. PRESS OPINIONS OF BUDGET. LONDON, May 1. Mr Chamberlain said preference would be given to wines affected by the reduction in favour of the dominions of the present duty of Is 3d and Is per gallon according to strength, preference to be sixpence on the former and a shilling on the latter. There is an additional tax on bottled wine of Is and 2s 6d gallon and prefereifce of sixpence and ninepence. The newspapers regard Imperial preference as the most significant feature of the Budget. Tariff reformers are jubilant at the recognition of the principle. Free-, traders declare it a mere sham. They say preference is impossible without a tax on food. The unexpected drop in the excess profits tax causes satisfaction and the increased death duties are approved in all quarters in view of the necessities of the situation. In the lobby financial opinion is plainly favourable and* regards the Budget as sound, hamperng industry as little as possible. The balance sheet is better than anyone dared to hope. The Budget shows a total deficit of £275,260,000. New and increased taxation for the current year will yield £41,450,000 after allowing for a loss of £2,300,000 on the preference proposals, leaving a net deficit of £233,810,000, which will be raised by borrowing. The preference proposals for the full year involve a loss of £3,100,000. THE DEBATE CONTINUED. LONDON, May 1. Received. May 2, 5.5 p.m. Sir Donald McjLean, resuming the Budget debate, said that the great spending departments, which were spreading devastation throughout the country, must bo curbed. Joseph Chamberlain had said that complete Imperial preference would invariably entail taxes on food. Mr Austen Chamberlain interpose ’r “The Government does not intend i mod taxes.” Sir Donald McLean continued by stating that great trade with the Dominions could not be developed without granting preference in corn, meat, and wool. He regretted that he must fight the proposal. Mr Amery defended the Government’s proposal, and said that it was not a direct issue between Free Trade and Protection; it was a question whether they regarded the Empire as a unit and whether they were willing to promote intercourse, understanding, and development, thus strengthening the Dominions. It was a worthy policy to carry out, irrespective of old party divisions. They were entering a new period of the Empire’s history and ought to deal ■ with industrial, social, and economic problems in a new spirit, aiming at wider unity.

OPPOSITION TO BUDGET. LABOUR AMENDMENTS. LONDON, May 2. Received May 3, 12.30 am. Brewers and Distillers are organising opposition to the Budget beer and spirits duties. The Labour Party intends to move amendments to the Budget demanding a levy on capital, the continuance of the excess profits tax, the withdrawal of Imperial preference and the raising of the income tax exemption limit to £250. FUTURE OF LABOUR, LOOKING TO BRITAIN FOR A LEAD. LLOYD GEORGE’S VIEWS. LONDON, May 1. Sir R. Horne, presiding at the Committee of the National Industrial Conference at Whitehall, read a letter from Mr Lloyd George stating that foreign countries were looking to Britain to give a lead in founding a better industrial order. He expressed approval of the forty-eight hour week and the minimum- wage fixed by the Commission. Elasticity was required in particular industries, such as agriculture, in which seasonal and other conditions necessitated special consideration; and such as seamen and domestic servants, where the forty-eight hour week was an impossibility. The Act should otherwise apply to all industries wherein the legal limitation of hours was practicable. He hoped a solution of the urgent problem of the unemployed would be the first question claiming the projected National Industrial Council’s attention. It was hoped the Council would be established at the very earliest moment. He was sure it would be of great value in assisting the Government to improve industrial conditions. A GREAT FUNDING LOAN. LONDON, May 2. Received May 3, 12.30 am. It is reported that the Government will shortly issue a great funding loan in the form of 44 per cent, consolidated stock. The issue price will be £BO. The loan will be repayable by means of a sinking fund which will be operative in 1967, entirely redeeming the loan by 1977. OILS AND FATS RELEASED FROM CONTROL, LONDON, May 1. Received May 2, 7.40 p.m. All seeds, nuts, and oils and fats have been freed from control, but the maximum price of copra has been fixed at £46 a ton.

AMBASSADOR AT WASHINGTON. MANY NAMES MENTIONED. NEW YORK, April 30. The New York Times’s London correspondent states that the next Ambassador to the United States will probably be chosen from the following men; Sir Gilbert Murray, Mr H. A. L. Fisher, Sir Auckland Geddes, or Lord Burnham. Most informed circles believe Mr Lloyd George’s purpose in asking Sir Auckland Geddes to defer taking up his post at McGill University was a desire to send him to Washington. “SOCIALISM AT WORK.” LONDON, May 1. In the House of Commons, Mr Amery, in reply to a question, promised to place in the library of the House of Commons a copy of the Queensland Government’s publication, “Socialism at Work.”