The Daily News MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1929. PROBLEM OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1929, Page 8

The Daily News MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1929. PROBLEM OF THE WAR.

In discussing at the Labour Conference at Brighton the problem of unemployment, Mr. J. H. Thomas, the Minister in the Home Labour Cabinet who has been specially assigned the formidable task of attempting to solve the great problem, gave an interesting review of the various measures whereby he considers the unfortunate position can be in large measure, overcome. He had only recently returned from Canada, where he made exhaustive inquiries concerning schemes of work likely to be of service in stimulating employment for people in the Old Country while assisting colonial development. In view of the proposals made by the Prime Minister of New Zealand for dealing with unemployment, there are certain points in Mr. Thomas’ address that should be of interest to the people of this Dominion. When referring to the difficulty and great expense involved in securing relief through public works, Air. Thomas emphasised that a million sterling of public money spent did not provide more than two hundred unemployed directly and two hundred indirectly with work. (Probably he meant two thousand, not two hundred.) That, he asserted, was the answer to those who assumed that the mere pouring out of public money was a solution. This contention is perfectly sound. At best such a course Js only a temporary palliative which leaves an aftermath of trouble. What is wanted is a well organised plan for permanently stimulating industries the growth of which will absorb the workless. That course must necessarily take time. On the register to-day in Britain there are nearly 1,200,000 unemployed, yet there are actually in industrial employment 100,000 more persons than during the boom of 1914, while a far greater number of women are engaged in industry than ever before. The immediate difficulty the Government has to face is the provision of money to defray the cost of relief woiks, and in this connection the Minister stated that when Parliament met after the present recess there would have been sanctioned over six millions for municipalities since the Government took office,.while ten millions had also been voted, to be spread over five years, for road works, and twentyeight millions’ for unclassified roads. The main policy of the Government is, however, to stimulate employment, and as the result of private conferences with representatives of railways, docks, harbours and other -industries some “magnificent schemes” have been evolved for providing work that will enable the nation to be more efficient. By sueh means not only will public services be benefited and made of greater use to the. community, but the industries which supply the manufactured materials and equipment will be absorbing a largely increased number of workers and/ thus helping materially to solve the main problem. In certain directions, Mr. Thomas believes that his visitto Canada will bear fruit, particularly now that the United States tariff against Canada is opening the way for that Dominion to transfer trade to Britain and the Empire. Hitherto, for every five pounds Canada has spent with America she has only spent one pound with Britain. It is quite possible that Canada may become an appreciable customer for British coal and steel, but as that Dominion has its own unemployment difficulties the outlook for migration thither was not bright. Obviously, the matter of developing trade with Canada must mainly depend upon the energy and enterprise of British industrialists. Mr. Thomas has done the spade work, and it is now for the industrialists to do their part, not perfunctorily, but with determination to make the best of the opportunity. Whether or not the magnificent schemes forecasted by Air. Thomas will materialise, or not, he has certainly exhibited unbounded enthusiasm and well directed energy in the task assigned to him by the Prime Minister. While thoroughly cognisant of the difficulties in the way of evolving a practical solution of the unemployment problem, he has been tackling the subject from the right encl. Success will depend on several factors, not the least being the co-operation of the workers in going all-out for greater production. New trade can only be obtained by placing goods on the markets of the world at a price and of a quality that will overcome competition, so that both the employers and the employed will need to join hands in reducing the cost of goods, not necessarily by lowering wages, but by the exercise of greater energy and more expert organisation. With the prospects of peace that are now in view, the payment of money due to Britain on ac-

count of war loans and reparations, and by rigid economy in administration, especially with regard to the fighting forces, a very large amount of capital will be available for industrial purposes, while the cost of output will be lessened by reductions of taxation. It is work —permanent work—for all able-bodied men that is the outstanding need. In promoting industrial expansion, Air. Thomas is doing good service, but, although he has Government backing, that will not go very far. It is to captains of industry we must look for victory.