[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, —The extent of the
problem in Aberdare is roughly as follows. Out of a working population of between 10,000 and 11,000, 60 per cent. are either irregularly or regularly employed, and 40 per cent. are unemployed. Taking the most hopeful view, and assuming that some recovery does take place in the coal trade as a whole, then we must look to the coal industry itself to give the 60 per cent. continuous employment, leaving in the town approximately 4,000 men who must look beyond the - coal industry for a livelihood, either to transference elsewhere, or to the establishment of new industries.
The first step in the establishment of new industries in the necessitous areas is the bringing together of those who con- template new industries and the local authorities of such areas. We strongly suggest that the Government should immediately set up a small technical and commercial Commission, which will investigate the advantages and disadvantages of such towns as Aberdare for various industries, and which will endeavour to bring together those who need workers and those who need work.
While not attempting to prejudge such investigation, it appears to us that Aberdare with its labour, deserves attention by such expanding industries as artificial silk, motor cars, manufacture of road materials (there are at hand large slag heaps from former iron works), chemical industries based on low temperature carbonization with its cheap power available from surplus gas. Further, there is no avenue here at present for female employment other than domestic service, so that many miscellaneous industries which need female labour might consider the advantages of the town.
But we believe that to overcome the tendency of new undertakings to settle alongside existing similar undertakings, it is necessary to offer definite rate relief advantages. Even with the relief of three-quarter rates, the rate on productive industry. in Aberdare will be 7s. in the pound, considerably higher than the average in English non-necessitous areas. Complete rate relief for a period of, say, five years is necessary, but this requires statutory sanction, which the Government should obtain for scheduled areas. We in Aberdare, and similar places, should be no worse off, as ratepayers, for the granting of such relief, and after five years we should be better
off. .
Further, taking a long view, we believe that a comprehensive scheme of afforestation of the bare hills of the coalfields is long overdue, and would, if spread over a number of years, afford continuous employment, and ultimately give practically at the pit tops the large quantities of pitwood that are now imported every year by the collieries.
The Spectator and its readers have responded in magnificent fashion to the immediate need of Aberdare by their generous contributions towards the relief of distress. We confidently ask that they will use their great influence to find an ultimate solution of the problem, for we feel that they realize, no less than ourselves, that the one imperative demand is to find work for the people, who, through the force of economic
circumstances, find themselves inevitably denied their means of livelihood,- and whose real demand is for work rather than relief.—We are, Sir, &c.,
WILLIAM J. HODGES, GLEN GEORGE. .
Members of the Aberdare Urban District Council. Aberdare, Glam.
Previous page
