RELIEF FOR THE WORKLESS

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13790, 23 October 1908, Page 5

RELIEF FOR THE WORKLESS

IWITISII GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION. THE PREMIER CHEERED HV THE HOI'SK. By Electric Telegraph. — Copyrignt. LONDON. Oct. 22. The House of Commons was parked when tlu» Premier, Mr H. 11. Asfjuith, rose to announce what the Government* intended to do to combat the trouble of unemployment. He said that the Government intend- ! Ed at the beginning of next session to deal with the permanent pauses and conditions of unemployment. He admit ted that a »rave situation had arisen, necessitating direct and immediate treatment. This temporary dislocation of the machinery of production had occurred throughout the world, and was not merely confined to th-. 1 United Kingdom. He admitted the unemployment was substantially in excess of anything experienced for some time, and declared that Mr John Burns, Piesident of the Local Government Hoard, had worked night and day to provide relief between June and October. The Local Government Hoard had sanctioned loans for local works of utility to the extent of £4,388,000, the amount being much in excess of the average. Other heavy loans were likely to be sanctioned, works being accelerated in the Metropolis and the large provincial centres. The Water Hoard intended to construct a reservoir at a cost of £520,000. The Government did not intend to authorise local authorities to levy a penny lelief rate. The municipalities had not .sought that power, but had ad\ ised the Government to deal with the emergency on national lines. The expenditure of loans would be at tenfold the usual rate and local authorities would do w hat was possible under the rates. The Post Office intended to employ eight thousand extra men at Christmas. The War Office vvmikl take 2 4,000 recruits for the special reserve during the winter, involving a cost of £200,000, and 2100 would be engaged on repair work at the dockyards. Tenders had already been accepted for new dest royers, to cost £9,000,000, and tenders would shortly be accepted for iive unarmoured cruisers at a cost of one* ond a-half millions. All this Xavy work would be commenced six weeks in advance of the usual time. The expenditure out of the central fund would be at least £300,000. The Government proposals made no pretence ar iinality. They merely afforded temporary relief. The statement was received with loud cheers. ,

The proposals will be debated on Monday.