Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-12
BY RHYs T. DAVIES. VI. r.

- NCrI AND IS once again being
reused Ia its supreme problem
UNEMPLOYMENT With over a
l. million Of its workers, men and
women. walking the streets ann
seSSrv. ana that number being added TO
a the rate Of several thousands Q week
3uSt now. British statesmen are Turn
ms tleir attention 10 all manner OF
devices in an endeavOr 10 combat the
scource. The present Conservative gov
eminent has had absolute power tand
tie biggest majority in Parliament III
tl1e history Of the country Tor tour
years, and in spite Of all their promises
when they took c.fice the economic
conditions Of the masses are not I'M
proving one Bit
Tho chief activities of the govern
r1cnt in JUS efforts to reduce unemploy-
mcnt by means OF stimulating industry
ard trade have been III the direction
Of safeguarding certain small industries
against foreign competition. and me
country IS threatened AZ the next gen.
eral election III 1929 with fierce CAM
pal2n in favor Of the extension Of the
rrincipleS Of safeguarding 10 other more
firr1rtant heavy undertakings such as
iron AND steel.
Element FavoTS High Tariffs.
I Is well 20 note in passing that
there Is a strong element n the present
regime constantly demanding the I'M
position Of : Wholesale system Of high
tariffs against a large number and
variety Of foreign commodities, with the
object o. reducing unemployment But
70 fight the next general election on
such an issue would. in the opinion OF
the most sober Conservative statesmen,
result IN 4 rout of the party at the
polls Britain is still III the grip Of
the Manchester school Of political
economy. which is fundamentally based
or free trade principles though the
grip is weaker than it used 10 be owing
t. the curse Of unemployment and the
willingness Of the people to test any
system which may improve trade and
the lot OF the workers.
Other means have, naturally. been
suggested 20 deal with the workless;
and at the moment there is a scheme
or foot TO increase the tax on petrol
(termed gas" in American at the rate
Of fourpence gallon in order TO raise
revenue to be used later to relieve
agriculture entirely, and productive in
oustyies Of IS per cent Of their local
rates The less of rate income 10 the
local authorities will be made good out
OF the petrol tax fund. This money,
however. viii not be available for
year or 50. and a revival Of trade con-
sequent upon the operation Of that
scheme cannot very well mature until
st least two years hence.
Derating Proposals.
So urgent is the problem Of unen-
rloTTueEt that the very latest proposal
l. ~F be- fSv4y-
posals mentioned 10 certain industries
Immediately. so as 10 ease their bur-
oers, more particularly in the coal
exporting areas Of South Wales. Dur
ham and Northumberland. A start is
beng made at once with the object
OF reducing railroad freights on coal.
The advantages To be gained by gen.
era deratiug are. Of course. bound to
BE- somewhat remote; and the govern
rleut itself Is not so certain that the
Echenle viii ultimately affect favorably
the condition OF industry and the con-
Seouent anelioTa ton Of the lot Of the
million voorhees, II, therefore, turns
SIS attention 70 what seems to be an
immediate way out Of the n7oraSs. Emil
grafton within the empire is to be &C
CELEBRATED: that Is the topic Of the day.
The wheat fields Of Canada and the
bushes Of Australia are waiting TO re-
Ce.ve tfe millions who are willing TO
venture and start a new career. Pam
palets are being issued explaining the
advantages u emigration 10 the Do
nlInion; and the call of the wild. espe-
elally 10 young men and women. is made
rs alluring as possible. One Of the
snags which spoil this appeal, however
u the attitude Of labor as represented
In the Labor party IN Parliament as the
official opposition, the trade unions, and
the working classes in general at home
ard IN the dominions.
Issues Involved Are Very Great.
Before explaining the snag it would
b. Vel first Of all 10 state the mag
nitu6e Of the issues involved A COM
mission appointed by the Government
has recently been roaming the country
q home Inquiring as 70 what can be
done 10 transfer some Of the million
voorhees, 70 other parts from derelect
areas most Of which we're once thriy-
ing mining villages. For instance,
there Is the case Of the Blalna district
O. South Wales with q population OF
: ; 600 where six COilierie8 have been
C.lsod and five d;Snlantled for the last
a. wears 70 productive work Of any
KIND mas been CagYleC on there since
1922 Other mining areas are similarly
placed though the conditions are not
81 static as At Blalna Out Of the
million voykless 3 per cent Of them