New Britain herald., 1930-04-05

act was recently extended to in- clude boys of 16 years of age.
 This extension was strenuously but unavailingly fought by op- ponents of the dole, who tri- unphantly pointed to the increase in unemployment which immedi- ately followed its enactment.
 Labor circles. however. maintain that unemployment in Great Brit ain and Northern Ireland is due primarily to the poor economic condition of the country, princi- pally the coal-mining industry and agriculture.
 Germany
 There were 3,o3o,9s5 unemploy- ed in Germany at the end of De- cember. 1929, as compared with g. 741,7sS at the end of December. 1928. It is pointed out, however. that these totals include 52 per cent seasonal industries.
 Of the 1929 total l.9s4,s11 were receiving unemployment benefits, including 21o,240 receiving emer- gency benefit for part time labor. In 1928 1,s29,71s received this benefit, including 127,s74 receiving emergency benefits.
 The German government, during 1929, paid out 1,oo0,ooo,o00 marks in benefits, and in 1928, 100000 900 marks, the equivalent of $3o0,- 100000 and so50,00o,0oo respective ly. The average weekly hand-out is about $5,ooo,ooo.
 As in Great Britain there are proponents and opponents of the dole. It is argued by some that if the total sum paid in doles was spent productively, only onc-third of the number of unemployed could find employment, while at the same time, the number of unem ployed who would accept work if deprived of the dole is estimated at per cent.
 Austria
 In December, 1929, there were "26,567 out-of-Works in Austria, in cluding s6,Sos in Vienna alone. as compared with o37,661, including o1.2l2 in Vienna. in December 1928. Of these totals practically all received the dolls in some shape or form.
 The government paid out sSS,. 100000 both in 1928 and 1929 ir unemployment benefits, and since the average number of unemploy, ed is estimated at c5o.o0o, the weekly dole per head is about se.75.
 At the present time there arc Seo,Ooo without work in Austria and it is forecast that the tota for 1880 will be higher than 1T previous years.
 Whether or not the dole tend! to increase or decrease unemploy ment is much debated point Austrian industrialists and bank CTS claim that it increases unem ployment because it paralyses busi ness and necessitates dismissal and the closing of factories. Or the other hand, Socialists clain that the dole has no affect on tho ; problem, which they say is du' to increasingly bad economic con dtions and other factors.
 Italy
 Italy had a monthly average 0 oeo,s54 unemployed during 1s. compared with a monthly averag of s,4,422 in 1928.
 Maximum unemployment in 1o2 was reached in February whel there were 4ss,;47 out of work and the minimum in June whel the total was 193,S25. In 1928 tn maximum was reached in Januar with 43s,21l, and the minimum fl July with 234,2lo.
 There is no system of "doles, as it is known in Great Britain Unemployed people are helpet under a form of compulsory insur ance paid evenly by employer and employees on the basis of th latter wages.
 These payments are affected through the Cassa Nazionale As sicurazioni Sociali or Nationa Bank on Social Insurances. whicl is a mi-governmental body.
 There are no figures as to tn payments made by this bank avail