BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8154, 2 June 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE UNEMPLOYED QUESIION.

800,000 WORKLESS

Received June 1, 8.33 a.m. LONDON, May 31,

Prior to the adjournment of the Hot S3 of Commons the Labour members heckled the Government respecting the delays in assisting thw unemployed. Mr Barnes stated that there were eight hundred thousand vrilling workers idle. Mr Walters advised a return to the system of apprenticeship and an entire revision of the elementary school methods, which gave boys a smattering of all sorts without any practical benefit. It would, he added, be more humane to shoot on Salisbry Plain the thousands of unemployed than leave them to tramp the Btreets. MrThorne said if the Government did nothing be advised the uuom ployed to adopt Mr Burns' suggestion made in 1885 and go and help themselves. Mr Keir-Hnrdie said a revival of apprentices woold soon secure an eight-hour day. The Government ought to grant a million pounds towards the unemployed. Mr Burns stated that 95 per cent, of the unemployed were unskilled labourers, and 00 per cent, town labourers, who had been displaced by stronger-bred countrymen. Parliament mu3t devise some return to the apprenticeship system. It would, he added, be butter to prevent men leaving the land tnan place demoralised townsmen on the land.