Evening star., 1923-09-27
BRITAIN
INCREASE WEEKLY
Prospect of Doies for Two
Mftion Faced for This
Mnter.
By Cable TO The Star and New York Tribune.
(opyrioht

By Cable 10 The Star and New York Tribune.
Copyright 1928.
LONDON, September 27.-The most
serioas domestic problem which
Great Britain has to faue-nameiy.
weekly becoming
more grave. The basic situation is
illustrated by the fact that last week
1.2eS 200 people drew unemployment
nay from the various labor exchanges
of the country. In addition. there
were $500 who received dole for
part time work only.
The total unemployed are 2S7 7,65S
less than were recorded on January
l, but according to the prediction of
J. h Thomas, head of the National
Union OF Railway Men, made at the
trades Hnion copgress held at Ply
mouth this week, it will reach 1000
900 this winter.
The government mas undertakings 8
under way designed to End work for
possibly 100000 men, SO If one accepts
the figures of Mr. Thomas it will
mean that 100000 people must live
this winter on doles from the gov
ernment and from local sources.
obviously. the $3.50 weekly, which
is the amount of the government
dole. is ret sufficient to maintain even
one person. let alone a family. In
mosE cases the deficit is made UP by
local authorities. Thus, while the
government spends something like
$4,0p0,000 weekly in doles alone. prob
ably three times that sum is laid out
In municipal and borough relief.
Makes Taxes High.
The latter is made up by a direct
charge on local rated taxes on real
estate, and, in the poorer district, 1t
these taxes at o fantastic figure.
Since the postwar boom collapsed
there have never been less than
1000. 900 names Oh the registers OF
Unemployment exchanges. The stag
gertng expenditure on subsidizing the
unemployed during the past three
years may. therefore, be imagined.
This naturally has had an adverse
effect on the trades union movement.
In the past two years it has lost
more than 4.000, geo. The unions rep
resented at Plymouth this week have
Il membership now of 4,369.26S. All
these figures, in the last analysis, die
tate beth the labor party policy and
the government policy.
Thus. at this trade union congress
for a general strike on account of the
occupation OF the Ruhr. retorted-
What's the good OF ordering gen.
eral strike If the men won't come
out? Moreover. it Is more the duty
of the French working classes than
Cannot stand Drain.
Every move Of the British govern
ment in foreign diplomacy is taken
with consideration as to the effect
on unemployment figures. This
country cannot indefinitely stand the
drain of Sl8.698.000 to s15.000.000 a
week. for which there as absolutely
no return. The labor party. while
yeicing the demand work or MAIN
tenance." can only offer socialiZation
of industry as means of com bat
fng unemployment.
The government, on the other hand,
holds that restoration OF the normal
and trading power in the
rest of the world must take plsce
before there can be any Improvement
In the British industrial situation.
That explains the whole diplomatic
policy and the anxiety to Tehabfli-
tate Germany, as well as the back
iRg OF the league of nations in an
effort to avert a Greco Italian war.
While in other countries a matter
such as unemployment may seem in
adequate as a basis on which to
shape a national policy. from the
British viewpoint it seems. an even
pie, that OF the French devastated re-
gions. The latter represents huge
expenditure of capital, but the Brit
ish trouble Is one which has been
progressive.
Men Lese Emcieney.
Men who have been out of work for
three years naturally have lest in ef-
fieiency and have become discomfort
ed Moreover, the population of the
British isles is steadily increasing,
orit of proportion to the national in
come Although there is at present
no prospect of affairs working cut to
a drastic conclusion, the logical out
come would be one of three possibi1-
tiles
+ The labor party might come into
power and attempt naturalization on a
scafe hitherto untrfed except in Russia;
wholesale emigration might take place
NATL a balance w'oHld be reached where
by unemployment would become negH-
gible; or, finally, Britain might seek, by
direct negotiations, to restore her for
nner markets.
BY the end of the year indications
should be available as to which of these
courses Ia a general way Great Britain
seems likely to adopt-or as to possible
combinations which the British genius
for compromise may dictate.