INCREASED VOTE

Southland Times, Issue 21895, 22 December 1932, Page 5

INCREASED VOTE

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN. PROVISION OF £19,000,000. (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, December 20. A national vote of £19,000,000 on behalf of unemployment was passed by the House of Commons last night. It was mainly required for the payment of transitional benefits under the Insurance Fund and in order to maintain a continued balance of the Insurance. Fund. This increase upon the original estimate was in part a sequel to the somewhat optimistic over-estimate of employment. It was pointed out by Sir Henry Betterton, Minister of Labour, that the world deterioration, which showed signs of being arrested when the original estimates were framed, had pro' gressively continued, and the expected improvement had not materialized. He emphasized that Britain bore most of her unemployment without borrowing. Britain, almost alone among the nations, was maintaining the position in the face of a formidable economic crisis. The supplementary estimate also included the Government’s contribution of £lO,OOO towards voluntary movements which had extended remarkably during recent months to help the unemployed in finding useful healthy means of occupying their time. The Prime Minister last night broadcasted an earnest appeal to the public for support for these activities.