DARK WINTER OUTLOOK IN BRITISH INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1080, 18 September 1930, Page 9

DARK WINTER OUTLOOK IN BRITISH INDUSTRY

UNEMPLOYMENT SOARS DOLE FUNDS SHRINKING United By Telegraph Copyright LONDON, Wednesday. The increase ’in Britain’s unemployed last week by <9,127, making the total 2,139,571, which occurred mainly in the north of England, represents further depression in the coal, metal, and textile industries. The souih-west of England actually showed a decrease in unemployment. In the 1G months during which the Labour Government has been in power the figures have increased by about one million. Some of the increase is due to the new Act, which has been in operation since March, which makes the receipt of benefi v The prospect for the coin.:& winter is regarded as black. Mr. John Broiricy Labour M.P. Barrow-in-Furness, at the recent conference of the Trades Union Congress, prophesied that the unemployed tn Britain would 4.000.000 by February. DOLE FUNDS LOW The position of the unemployment insurance fund i- occupying tht attention of the Government, as the premiums are not sufficient to carry the present benefits and the fund is nearly £00,000,000 in debt. Apparently there are only two courses open—either to raise the premium*, OT to reduce the benefits. The railway companies are cutting down their staffs as much as possible owing to the heavy decline in traffic. The conversation* between Y and Liberal representatives on the unemployment problem were resumed In London today. Mr. Vernon Hartshorn, Lord Privy Seal, and Mr. Lees Smith, Postmaster-General, represented the Government, and the Marquess of Lothian and Mr. B. Seebohm Rowctree, a member of the executive committee of the Liberal Summer School Industrial Inquiry, the Liberals.