The Mankato free press., 1921-03-18
ENGLAND'S IDLE MILLION
-
NO SOLUTION FOR THE
PROBLEM AND MENACE
Government Is Spending Hun
dreds of Millions In Aid
Nowadays
AUSTIN WEST

LOnUOD, MaTCn 1O.-ACCOTuluS W
figures issued by the Ministry of La
Dor today there are 1.143,300 regis
tered unemployed in Britain-and
they are still climbing.
The unemployed barometer has
taken several big jumps during the
last few months. At the middle of
October the number of men and wo-
men registered at the Employment
Exchanges was $4,000; by the mid
die Of November it was 473,000; by
the middle of January $4,000, and
now they are well over the million
mark.
These figures do not take into
account the thousands OF unemployed
who have not registered at the gov
eminent bureau. If these were in
cluded, it is estimated that the num-
ber would be swelled to million
and a quarter. Nor are they inclus-
i've of the people working on system
attic short time, estimated at 10000.
The latter are chiefly made up Of
d. cotton operatives and government
employees at dockyaIdS, etc.
Believe Peak Has Been Reached.
Optimistic officials of the Ministry
of Labor believe the peak has been
reached, but the Labor members OF
Parliament lean to the belief that the
situation will be decidedly worse be-
fore the turn is reached. Realizing
this the government is graphing
with the problem with the primary
object of stemming the tide.
So far the government has been
chiefy concerned in efforts to absorb
tens of thousands of eX- service men
into the industrial fabric by propa-
ganda and appeals to employers. The
unexpected avalanche of unemploy-
ment of all classes, however, has
made it imperative to create state
aided schemes. These were explain
ed By the Minister of Labor, DR..
Macnamara.
According to Mcnamara, at least
10000 men have been found employ
ment on public works. The expendi
lures authorized for these schemes
is practically $1e0, ,0O0,0 900.
In addition to that, and in the di-
rection of mitigating hardship, an
amendment to the Unemployment In
surance Act has added 5000, 900 to
the 1000, 900 pensons insured. A fur
ther extension Of the out Of work do
nation to exseryice men has been
granted, involving an additional ex-
penditure of $4,000 900, making in
all, since the armistice, s200,0O0. 900
to ex- service men. and $4,000 900,
out of work donation for civilians
during the first year after the armis-
tice.
One of Chief Bones of Contention.
One Of the chief bones of conten-
ton between the government and the
trades unions is the persistent re-
fUsal Of the builders to permit dilu-
ton of skilled labor by employment
Of unskill9d ex- -servicemen. There is
not an unemployed bricklayer in the
country and work could Immediately
be found for 100000 men, resulting
n employment being provided for
painters. plumbers. laborers, etc. In
the face Of these facts the $4,000 ex-
CTVice men are forced to remain
idle.
Th~ tendency here for some time
taI Geer 10 regard every trade as
20 u-n2c~yG and in restricted
.narEet to force up wages by means
r. sf'ik02. Last year alone 27,000,-
" T. G@jI OF work were lost owing to
The Ia5o~ Party so far has failed
- @1'T~0s' = cure for unemployment.
LeadCT Civnes Of the party declares
= iG u - the government to devise
me29I fc' maintenance or work, and
'Eft Ec-'o steDG should be taken to
eetn"" International trade.
whatever the causes. the present
crisis iC causing widespread misery
In tte country. and the out of work
donations and other government
Coles are generally looked upon as
being merely palliatives.