UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16307, 23 December 1920, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN.

THE WORST FQH TWELVE YEARS, ’ THE WORST FOR TWELVE 'YEARS . GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian ana N.Z. Cable Association,

LONDON, December 22

Dr Macnainara, iu moving the second reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill iu the House of-Commons, said that the unemployed on December 10 compared 26-5,0110 ex-service men, 1-18,000 civilians and. 13.1,000 women, apart from, those unregistered. This was below tbe record of some pre-war times, hut the cost of living was now 167- per cent higher, hence the problem was more grim and acute. At least half were young, active men, to .whom the country was under profound'obligations, who wanted work, not doles. The Minister detailed the offer to the building trade unions. The Government had also appointed a special committee, Lord fet Davids presiding, to whom had been given 000,000 for the purpose of - assisting local authorities carrying out approved. schemes on behalf of unemployed, other than housing and roadmaking, of a remunerative character. A deputation of Labour members had, he said, last week advocated sotting aside the four weeks’ qualifying period for benefit under unemployment insurance, the provision of useful work, various Government departments making grants, and the revival of out-of-door donations for civilians. Cabinet had decided to, accept the proposal for setting aside the four weeks’ qualification period. The system would also in a short time be introduced into Government establishments, but the continuance., of civilians’ out-of-door donations was neither feasible nor desirable. England was now experiencing the worst period of unemployment lor the past tyelve years.

LONDON, December 22, Discussing the Government’s policy xor the relief of unemployment Mr Uytfes said the proposals laid before the Housq_ would not provide a complete solution bub were a contribution towards meeting a serious situation. DISTRESSED EX-SOLDIERS, c /> December 22. Scores of ou,charged soldiers are be. stegiug Australia, House daily, re . tm f g ., aSsißf 1 UCO over Christmas. <iUany of the applicants are recently from Australia. The recipients already number some hundreds. y PREMIER'S SUGGESTION, IMMIGRATION TO DOMINIONS. r,_,' LONDON, December 22. mStld 3 i he deb . ate the Pr emier painted a gloomy picture of ContinenEnrn 0 nT djt w nß> 1 eS 1 pecf f lly in Hedecl , ared tbat: unless the ™X restored to more normal conditious the problem of unemployment ■ with. yur eastern ere,” he said, "are insolvent. Europe cannot buy. We are a prosperous shop whose neighbours have gone bankrupt.” AnionS the suggestions under consideration was the tale of Government, wool to Central w SVi’U,'® EJSt “"- The Premier startled the House Irv saying that ho would like to see a scheme of immigration to the dominions considered, in conjunction with the dominions, for men unable to find permanent work in England for some time to come.