17 NOVEMBER 1928, Page 2

Mr. Churchill laid it down that the remedies Must be

both general and special. The main general remedy was the scheme for rating relief to industry. Neit came alleviation by Empire settlement. The Government would soon announce a lowering of fares. Then the continuation of the Export Credits Scheme and the operation of the Electricity Act. Schemes involving an expenditure of £17,000,000 on electrical schemes had been approved. As for special remedies, the Government were taking the risk of making an inroad upon capital resources by expediting schenies for land drainage and for providing work for men transferred from one district to another. • It is essential, we are convinced, to draw a sharp distinction between " relief works " which are unproductive and schemes which are productive. Drainage work is essentially productive, but it cannot go far without being accompanied by a reconstitution of the drainage authorities. The water-logged lands of England are at present presided over by three hundred and sixty-five authorities—one for each day of the year Other productive work could be started, and it is obvious that slack times provide the very occasion for putting our house into order. There are the slums and there are the various projected docks and there is much road- Work waiting for the unemployed.

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