VOTE FOR UNEMPLOYED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 642, 21 December 1932, Page 1

VOTE FOR UNEMPLOYED.

Result of Over-optimistic Estimate. British Official Wireless. (Received December 21, noon) RUGBY, December 20. A national vote of £19.000,000 on behalf of unemployment was passed by’ the House of Commons last night. It was mainly required for the payment of transitional benefits under the Insurance Fund and in order to maintain the continued balance of the Insurance Fund. This increase upon the original estimate was in part the sequel to a somewhat optimistic over-estimate of the number in employ’ment. It was pointed out by Sir Henry* Betterton that the world deterioration, which showed signs of being arrested when the original estimates were framed, had progressively continued and the expected improvement had not materialised. He emphasised that Britain bore the cost of unemployment without borrowing. Britain, almost alone among the nations, was maintaining its position in the face of a formidable economic crisis. The supplementary* estimates also included the Government's contribution, of) £IO,OOO towards voluntary movements, w-hich have extended remarkably during recent months to help the unemployed in finding useful and healthy* means of occupying their time. The Prime Minister last night broadcast an earnest appeal to the public for support in these activities.