Evening star., 1932-02-28
BY ALBIN E. JOHNSON.

- ENEVA.-That the world un-
A employment situation has
II struck the very bottom and
~ cannot possibly get much worse
is the deduction of the Inter
national Labor Bureau, which has just
compiled complete official statistics on
unemployment in most countries of
Europe and America. While refusing
even to venture an estimate on the total
unemployed in the world, the statistics
which have been verified. show that
there are nearly 80 per cent more idle
now than year ago.
France which was the last country
70 feel the effects of the depression, re-
ports a gain of Sc per cent in unem-
ployment during the past year. Bel
GUMS workless have increased 118 per
cent, New Zealand's 164 per cent and
Latvla's by 125 per cent.
Germany's unemployed now exceed
100000, while Italy admits officially
909,234. as against 1854 of a year
ago. Countries where unemployment
has more than doubled since December,
1880, are Denmark, Holland, Canada,
Esthonia and Jugoslavia.
Based on Records.
The figures are based largely upon
government registers and nemploy-
ment relief records. Only those workers
who are receiving aid or insurance are
counted, consequently the actual figures
are much larger than revealed.
The Irish Free State and Japan are
the two countries least affected. Dub
lin reports 25,622 unemployed, gain
of per cent over last year. Japan has
8 per cent more idle than year ago.
about per cent of her working classes
being unemployed, according to latest
official calculations.
Because of the tendency in many
countries to keep the true state OF
affairs from the public, for psychological
purposes, the labor Office experts have
been particularly careful to accept only
figures which are verified. The reports
deal largely with percentages OF m
crease rathr than actual numbers. The
trend is the important thing. however
Germany's figures, considered most
complete, show that where there were
3,977.0 900 idle at the beginning OF 1881
on January l there were 5,349, 900, an
increase of 35 per cent. A week ago
the figure passed 100000.
England Improved.
Great Britain alone seems to show
Improvement, although there are II per
cent more idle than year ago. In re-
cent weeks, however, unemployment has
actually been falling, although this in
part may be due, the report points out,
to alteration in the unemployment in
surance acts rather than to a bettering
of industrial conditions.
"The situation has become more and
more difficult even in countries where a
compulsory Unemployment insurance
scheme exists" says the report, "and
far more so in those countries where no
adequate scheme or no scheme at all is
in force. Some people are of the
impression that the cyclical depression
has touched bottom, but even If that be
so it is too early yet to say how soon an
upward movement may be expected"
One fact tE-.t emerges from the COL
lection of statistics is that the crisis is
becoming more and more worldwide.
Nom European countries especially show
increases in unemployed. Aside from
New Zealand's gain of 1874 per cent,
Canada shows 80 per cent more idle,
Australia 35 per cent and the United
States 80 per cent over last year. No
figures as to numbers of idle in the
United States have been obtained by
the Labor Bureau, except that 20 per
cent of its workers are out of work
today.
Increases in other countries in unem-
ployment during the past IL months are
as follows: Australia, II per cent;
Denmark. 50 per cent; Holland, 90 per
cent; Switzerland, Al per cent; Czecho-
slovakia, 45 per cent; Hungary. % per
cent; Sweden, A per cent; Finland, A
per cent; Italy, 50 per cent; Norway, %