22 MARCH 1930, Page 2

Within the next few weeks Mr. Thomas's critics in the

Labour Party will have only too much material for making a plausible case against him. In the past week' the unemployed increased by 16,588. The total is now 1,563,800, including all the three classes on the register —the wholly unemployed, the temporarily 'stopped, and those who are normally in casual employment. There are 294,961 more unemployed than a year ago. At this time last year employment was improving remarkably. Between March 11th and 18th, 1929, the unemployed decreased by 86,000. The coming relaxation of the tests for those who are considered eligible for benefits will cause an appreciable further addition to the register. * *