PUBLIC WORKS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1935, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS

MANY AVENUES OPEN HELP FOR THE WORKLESS LLOYD GEORGE’S ATTACK CRITICISM OF CABINET HIS PLAN NOT EXAMINED By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright. Rec. 6.30 p.m. London, Feb. 23. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at Manchester, declared that no single party could hope to solve the unemployment problem. He charged the Government with failure to examine not only his plan but every scheme involving expenditure on national development beyond the narrow limits of the Government’s existing programme. This could not possibly appreciably affect the volume of unemployment, which was now 2,250,000 people. Mr. Lloyd George contended it was unnecessary to have a public works programme directly employing 2,250,000, as every man working meant another employed in ancillary work. The 7,000,000 to 8,000,000 at present supported by doles, allowing the bare necessities of existence, should have more money to spend on’improving the demand in woollen and similar industries. He added that examples of possible works included the electrification of railways in the neighbourhood of cities, the rebuilding of terminals and the extension of electricity to country towns, villages and farmhouses, in which £150,000,000 could be expended employing 120,000 men for five years. The shortage of workers’ houses was still 2,000,000, on which hundreds of thousands could be employed. Also much work was possible in draining and reconditioning neglected farm land. By such means it* would be possible to save £50,000,000 to £60,000,000 in doles in five years. The Government should constitute a body of responsible businessmen to take a wide survey of everything essential to re-equip Britain in industry and agriculture, communications, the amenities of‘life and training for the entire population. Experts would then prepare plans to carry out the necessary undertakings, possibly over 10 years, according to the condition of trade. The Government must remove difficulties in connection with international trading. Britain would possibly reverse its fiscal position in the next few years, but it would only abandon protection when convinced that it had utterly failed. Mr. Lloyd George advocated the inexorable employment of such tolls as already had been’ imposed in order to induce a bargaining process for the reestablishment of low tariffs. Britain could use her position as the world’s greatest purchaser much more effectively. The Treasury policy of hoarding instead of helping with credit was morbid. The nation’s money power must be more effectively applied to its needs in order to restart the wheels of industry. • Mr. Winston Churchill, speaking at Loughton, ascribed the “unemployment muddle” and other Government failures to the absence of any Prime Minister in the sense? of a commanding mind ranging over the whole field of public action. He added: “The country, the Government and the Conservative Party are carrying a grievous burden in Mr. MacDonald. I shall not agree if Mr. Stanley Baldwin decides that we go to a general election under such leadership. “Mr. Baldwin’s remarks about split votes means that in order to carry out the Conservative policy we must seek Socialist-Liberal votes. Is he entitled r£ party leader to take such a course? He should give a reassuring explanation of the menacing statement.”