New-York tribune., 1920-12-22
Lloyd George Suggests
Emigration to Colonies
as Best Solution Of I'm.
employment Problem
Relief Measures
Called Inadequate
Million Of Men Without
Work Held Most Peril
Gus Issue Nation Faces

LONDON, Dec. 81 (By The Asso-
ciated Press ).-The government in o
statement in Parliament to-day. ad-
mittcd the extreme seriousness Of tho
unemployment situation, but offered
little satisfaction to labor's demands
for solution Of the problern Despite
the urgency Of the need, Premier Lloyd
George told the House Of Commons
that the only real relief which could
be found now was through emigration
to the colonies.
The Premier said there we're 100000
more men and women to find employ
ment for now than there were in 1914,
despite the losses Of the war. and
although the solution of the problem
by emigration was not pleasant sug-
gestion the Premier argued that it
would strengthen the empire and
create greater sense of kinship.
The Prime Minister said he would
like to see scheme considered in con-
junction with the dominions for find
ing employment for men whom he
feared it would be difficult to find work
for at home for some time to come
certainly until the world was restored
TO something like normal conditions
He hoped to see this matter discussed
at the meeting Of the empire premiers
in the month Of May.
In keeping W tn tho Prime Minister'S
suggestion. Sir John Norton Griffiths
appealed for an immediate scheme OF
state-aided emigration to the domin-
ions, asking the Premier to ascertain
by cable how many trained husband
l.
sorb if necessary, with a grant of f1QO
TO f2OO head
The governments statement on the
situation, which was read in the House
Of Commons by 7. J. MacNamara, Min
lister of Labor, admitted that the out
look this Christmas was the darkest
in many years. He said the govern
ment was doing its utmost to mitigate
conditions. if only because at least
half the unemployed were young men
to whom the country was deeply in
debted.
Sincerity Of Plea Admitted
He believed that these men. on whom
the government had spent c35.000,000
since the armistice. were quite sincere
in saying that they wanted not gold,
but work
Abiding to the demands Of labor,
to revive civilian uncmD, ,oyment dona-
tions were neither feasible nor desir~
able.
The national executive Of the labor
party on December Is adopted a reso-
luton calling upon the government to
maintain persons for whom no work
was available. The government was
asked to pay each man 40 shillngs a
week and each woman 25 shil ings, with
an additional allowance for dependents.
Preceding to outline the govern
mcnt's scheme, the minister announced
that special committee of business
men would be appointed. under the
Craftsmanship of Lord St. Davids, to CO.
ordinate the relief activities through
out the country, and $4,000 900 would
be placed at the disposal of this com
mittec to assist the local authorities
IN executing approved schemes of use
ful work.
Coming to his main proposal, Mr.
MacNamara announced that short bill
would be introduced amending the un-
employment insurance act, so that the
unemployed would not be compelled to
qualify for unemployment benefits oy
being employed for four weeks and
making contribution to the nsur-
ance. He again referred to the ar
terial road schemes previously an
nounccd and SAID that in short time
these would be adopted by the Wool
wich arsenal and other government es-
tabiis, ments.
Service Men To Be Builders
lie explained q scheme fol the alb
sorption Of $4,000 ex. service men into
the building trades il. order to expedite
housing plans. The government pro-
posal was that former service men
should be Introduced into the trades in
the ratio OF to 5. The government
would grant s5 head to the trades
unions concerned-G2 on admission ana
IS on comletion of the training.
John Robert Clynes, former food
controiler and president of the Nation
al Union Of General Workers, who fol
lowed Mr.. MacNamara, said the Min
ister of Labor was u very optimistic
man if he believed that the lines Of
action he had explained would within
The next twelve months absorb any
considerable number Of the mil.o,. or
more unemployed. The government. he
contendcd, ought to deal with the ques-
(ContinUod on paes nvel