The Labour Party's amendment expressing regret at the absence of
any reference to unemployment in the King's Speech was moved on Thursday evening by Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, who took the line that unemployment was a proof of the failure of the existing social organisation, and that it was the duty of the State to protect the unemployed from the evils of unemployment. Mr. Pete Curran, who seconded, condemned the use of mechanical science for the advantage of capitalists to the absolute detriment of those who were creating wealth. "They wanted the Government to introduce scientific methods whereby men and women anxious to work should have facilities for working, even to the detriment of private enterprise." Mr. Masterman in an eloquent speech proclaimed his reluctant conversion to a belief in emigra- tion. "In the name of all that was sane in Socialism, they were not going to start organising State industries out of unemployment." Dr. Macnatuara defended the policy of the Local Government Board, which was to assist the unemployed in such a way as would enable them more readily to assist themselves, to make grants in respect of works of actual and substantial utility, and to help the unemployed with work without putting the employed out of work. As a practical man, he was bound to dismiss Socialism as hopelessly chimerical. Amongst other causes of unemployment in this country, Dr. Macnamara specially dwelt on intemperance, the early age at which children left school, and the injudicious treatment of tramps in our casual wards.
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