The Problem of Unemployment U NEMPLOYMENT is without ..doubt, the greatest

internal problem in the country at the present time. It cuts to the very roots of the life and well-being of our land, and the evil effects which emanate therefrom are .unhappily__Many, poverty, despair, loss of efficiency and physical ability are only a few of the lamentable products of this long continuing misfortune. It is Of little consequence debating the reasons -for this condition of affairs : - strikes; economic forces-, the devastating effect- of the Great-War are indubitably the main' causes; but in the abiding interests• of our people it is of para- mount importance that new efforts should be made to eradicate this condition. The rating relief provided -for in the Budget is a comprehensive effort by the Government towards mitigating the burdens weighing oppressively on producers and should foster great expansion in trade generally.

But has unemployment hitherto been comprehensively treated as a National problem ? Have we a central body constantly engaged in the study of this subject, reviewing suggestions, analysing schemes, with a view to providing work ? If on the contrary, the formation of an executive committee representative of the nation would be abund- antly justified. Great schemes have been planned, beneficent work has been carried through, but apart from finding employment for considerable numbers the effects have lacked finality in producing work of an increasing and permanent nature. 'Expensive schemes merely for the sake of providing employment fail funda- mentally in the very object for which they are created. The expenditure involved is often out of all proportion to the work done and in some cases represents a further increase in taxation.

While we have now to contend- with intense foreign competition and a diminished demand for our goods, greater use of motive power by oil and water, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain an expanding industrial population. The country has to sustain an enormous burden of unremunerative expenditure—nearly three- fourths of our total outlay. Unemployment benefit alone, for example, cost the country, in the year 1926-27, fifty millions.

The Parish Council rate in Glasgow is 4s. in the pound and approximately half of this is required for out-of- work relief. The combined assessments in Merthyr have risen from 10s. 4d. to over 30s. in the pound. The figure in Lanarkshire has increased from over £269,000 in 1913 to more than £803,000 in 1928. This is without doubt aggravated by the extreme hardship prevailing in the coal industry, but it may be taken as an approxi- mation of the conditions obtaining in the large coal areas. The Glasgow rate is probably an index of the figure generally throughout important industrial districts. Adversity rests mainly on coal, iron, shipbuilding, and cotton, and had some differentiation in the Budget been applied to this group greater concentration in relief would be possible in distressed areas. The committee dealing with the Safeguarding of Industries would be well equipped for this duty.

For a great proportion of this vast expenditure the country receives no return whatever. It constitutes a heavy burden on capital and industry, and represents a greatly diminished purchasing power and ability to provide more and new work. Any hope of a speedy or permanent improvement in the present situation will certainly be slow if not wholly retarded while this heavy non-productive expenditure continues. We have in the able-bodied unemployed a great latent power which, if wisely and skilfully directed into channels of existing production, could alter the whole state of England. The want of a precedent should not deter resolute action in the matter. We cannot gainsay the fact that abundant work could be found in the country, in industry, on the land, or on work normally undertaken by Town Councils and Local Authorities ; in whatever direction there is hope of reducing production costs or local rates the efforts of the unemployed should be so directed in an attempt to get the country out 'of the present depression.

I suggest...the following schemes on which work can be immediately found for thousands of men • : Scheme A for Wood Clearing and Replanting.

My travels about the country have revealed a con- siderable source of revenue in the form of fallen timber. Much of it is trunks of fair proportions. My plan is :- 1. To enlist the services of men willing to undertake the salvage and selling of this material.

2. In conjunction with this work an organized system of replanting and estate renovation, e.g., drainage, fencing, etc., could be carried through.

3. Rationing and living accommodation for the men employed would be similar to the Army arrangements.

4. Necessary tools could be loaned from Govern- ment stores.

5. The work to be restricted to spring and summer months only and general conditions of work made as attractive as possible.

6. Wherever possible men could be employed on areas nearest their homes.

7. The Government to retain the right to a per. tentage of the aggregate value of planting.

8. Revenue would be credited to planting account.

There is real need for forestry development to make good the heavy depletion during and since the War; high costs generally have restricted this important industry. I venture to say on these reciprocal lines a great scheme of afforestation . could be accomplished . successfully at little cost.

Scheme B for Agriculture.

Nearly every farmer could find work for one, two, or more men. With the object of stimulating agricultural production I suggest :—- 1. Farmers be allowed to enlist the services of suitable men up to their needs in return for adequate board, lodgings, and unemployment pay as at present.

2. The men so employed would be without prejudice to existing staff.

There is clamant need for increasing agricultural pro- duction and while this plan would encourage this object it would prove a valuable concession to farmers at this time. These schemes would also provide a rudimentary training to men who desired to pursue these vocations in our Colonies. At the present time the Government is establishing training centres to equip suitable men for emigration. Substantially the same results would be achieved, practically without cost, under the above scheme. The Government could, however, take over financial responsibility of emigrants after requisite experience in the particular work has been gained, and the principle could be applied in other directions according to the amount of unemployment and the number of men graded under particular trade categories.

Objections which may be expected in regard to this scheme are that farm workers may suspect an attempt to assail their present standard of living ; the men now employed may be considered adequate for the work (in spite of the seasonal influx of Irish labourers for harvest- ing operations and potato lifting), and there would be accommodation difficulties and loss of time involved in directing inexperience. Further, the Agricultural Wages Board may consider the scheme to be an infringement of their prerogative. None of these points, however, should prove insuperable : the War was a hard school of experience and the number of men who could readily put their hands to agricultural work would be amazing.

The Government, in a pamphlet, has negatived the use of unemployment benefit in aid of Industry, but while we witness the wretched spectacle of a million unemployed, drawing benefit without tangible return to the nation, we simply cannot afford to dismiss the subject without. further. consideration. In . the supreme interest of our people and the prosperity of our country it is imperative that the Government -shoUld launch forward with courage and determination on some policy of emancipation from our present load of wasted