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Catalogue Reference:CAB/24/216 Image Reference:0042

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m a d e i n r e g a r d t o p u b l i c v / o r k s o f d e v e l o p m e n t a p p r o v e d

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o n t h i s o c c a s i o n t h a n a s t a t e m e n t c o n f i n e d t o o u r a c t i v i t i e s

i n t h e f j e l d o f p u b l i c w o r k s . Kb o n e w o u l d w i s h t o

m i n i m i s e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s b r a n c h o f o u r l a b o u r s , b o t h

i n a f f o r d i n g s o m e i m m e d i a t e r e l i e f f o r t h e u n e m p l o y e d

a n d i n f u r t h e r i n g t h e e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y ;

b u t t h e r e i s , I f e e l , a r e a l d a n g e r t h a t a t t e n t i o n may

b e f o c u s s e d o n t h e p r o m o t i o n o f p u b l i c w o r k s t o t h e

e x c l u s i o n o f a l l e l s e a n d t h a t t h e i m p r e s s i o n m a y o b t a i n

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b y c o m p a r a t i v e l y f e w , t h a t w e , a s a G o v e r n m e n t , a r e

c o n c e n t r a t i n g o u r e f f o r t s o n t h e p r o v i s i o n o f i m m e d i a t e

a n d t e m p o r a r y p a l l i a t i v e s a n d a r e t a k i n g n o s t e p s t o

e f f e c t a n y p e r m a n e n t cux^e b y a t t a c k i n g , w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s

p r e s c r i b e d b y t h e e x i s t i n g P a l r i t - m e n t a r y s i t u a t i o n , t h e r o o t

c a u s e s o f o u r i n d u s t r i a l t r o u b l e s .

I a c c o r d i n g l y g a v e i n s t r u c t i o n s t h a t t h e s t a t e m e n t

on p u b l i c w o r k s s h o u l d b e s u p p l e m e n t e d b y a b r i e f r e v i e w

o f t h e p r i n c i p a l m e a s u r e s t a k e n a n d t h e p o l i c y p u r s u e d i n

o t h e r f i e l d s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h u n e m p l o y m e n t . S u c h a

s t a t e m e n t h a s b e e n p r e p a r e d a n d a p r o o f i s a t t a c h e d , I

s h o u l d l i k e t o know w h e t h e r t h e i d e a o f p u b l i s h i n g s u c h

a p a p e r a t t h i s j u n c t u r e c o m m e n d s i t s e l f t o my c o l l e a g u e s

a n d t o b e a d v i s e d o f a n y c o m m e n t s t h e y n a y w i s h t o m a k e

o n i t s f o r m .

( I t l d . ) J . R . 1 , 1 .

[0 Downing o t r e e t , J . *v. 1 . , K o v e n b e r 2 4 t h 5 1 9 3 0 .

o

STATEMENT of the principal measures taken by H.M. Government in connection with

UNEMPLOYMENT.

Presented to Parliament by the by Command of

His Majesty, November, 1930.

L O N D O N : PRINTED A N D P U B L I S H E D B Y H I S H A J E S T Y ' S S T A T I O N E E Y O F F I C E .

To be purchased d i r e c t l y f r o m H.M. S T A T I O N E R Y O F F I C E a t t h e f o l l o w i n g a d d r e s s e s t Adastral H o u s e . Kings -way , L o n d o n . W . C . 2 ; 120, G e o r g e S t r e e t , E d i n b u r g h ;

York S t r e e t , M a n c h e s t e r ; 1, S t . A n d r e W s Crescent , Cardif l ; 15, D o n e g a l l S q u a r e W e s t , B e l f a s t ;

or t h r o u g h a n y B o o k s e l l e r .

1930. Price N e t .

Cmd.

INTRODUCTION.

Iv. (Par t T 6f t h i s s t a t e m e n t i s i n c o n t i n u a t i o n of p r e v i o u s statement­- p r e s e n t e d t o P a r l i a m e n t i n D e c e m b e r , 1929 ( C r n d . 3449) a n d March.' 1 9 3 0 - ( C m d . ' 3 5 1 9 ) / a n d b r i n g s u p t o d a t e figures, g i v e n in those s t a t e m e n t s , ' 1 ! o f - a p p r o v a l s for G o v e r n m e n t a s s i s t a n c e under the D e v e l o p m e n t ( L o a n 1 G u a r a n t e e s a n d Gi-ants ) A c t , 1929, the C o l o n i a l D e v e l o p m e n t A c t , 1 9 2 9 , f rom t h e E o a d F u n d , a n d under o t h e r a r r a n g e m e n t s , for, w o r k s of i m p o r t a n t e m p l o y m e n t value .

I t m u s t b e h o m e i n m i n d t h a t t h e p r o m o t i o n of e m e r g e n c y work; of d e v e l o p m e n t is o n l y o n e p a r t of t h e G o v e r n m e n t s programme^ for d e a l i n g w i t h u n e m p l o y m e n t a n d , i n o r d e r t h a t t h i s p a r t may be v i e w e d , i n p r o p e r p e r s p e c t i v e , o p p o r t u n i t y h a s b e e n t a k e n to survey br ief ly ( P a r t I I ) o t h e r b r a n c h e s of a c t i v i t y t o w h i c h t h e Govern­m e n t a t t a c h i m p o r t a n c e i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n .

PART I.

Emergency Works approved for Government Financial Assistance, I n J u n e a n d J u l y l a s t t h e G o v e r n m e n t h e l d a se r ies of con-!

f e r e n c e s w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of loca l a u t h o r i t i e s w i t h t h e object of s e c u r i n g a c o n s i d e r a b l e e x t e n s i o n of t h e p r o g r a m m e of usefu l public w o r k s . w h i c h cou ld b e p u t . i n h a n d i n o r d e r t o m i t i g a t e t h e effects oi t h e p r o l o n g e d u n e m p l o y m e n t f rom w h i c h t h e c o u n t r y is suffering. A s a r e s u l t of t h e s e c o n f e r e n c e s , a t w h i c h spec ia l s t r e s s was laid o n p r o v i d i n g a s m u c h w o r k a s p o s s i b l e for t h e c o m i n g winter, s u b s t a n t i a l c o n c e s s i o n s w e r e m a d e to loca l a u t h o r i t i e s i n regard to t h e c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h G o v e r n m e n t a s s i s t a n c e w o u l d be made a v a i l a b l e fo r loca l s c h e m e s . A r r a n g e m e n t s fo r e x p e d i t i n g the p r e p a r a t i o n , a p p r o v a l a n d e x e c u t i o n of s c h e m e s w e r e discussed a n d a g r e e d .

T h e G o v e r n m e n t d e c i d e d a l so t o i n c r e a s e v e r y largely the T r u n k E o a d p r o g r a m m e a n d t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e e x e c u t i o n of the F i v e - Y e a r p r o g r a m m e for t h e i m p r o v e m e n t of classif ied roads and b r i d g e s ( a n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of n e w r o a d s a n d b r i d g e s likely to b e c lass i f i ed) .

I n a d d i t i o n a V o t e of ^ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 w a s t a k e n t o p rov ide for grants t o m e e t t h e cos t of w o r k s i n n e c e s s i t o u s a r e a s . T h e s e g ran t s are i n t e n d e d f o r a r e a s w h i c h a r e l e a s t ab l e t o i n c u r c a p i t a l expenditure c h a r g e a b l e , o n : t h e i r o w n r e s o u r c e s a n d a r e i n consequence pre­v e n t e d f r o m a v a i l i n g t h e m s e l v e s of t h e o r d i n a r y m e a s u r e s of a s s i s t a n c e f r o m t h e U n e m p l o y m e n t G r a n t s C o m m i t t e e , a reas where t h e r a t e s h a v e b e e n h e a v y for s o m e y e a r s , w h e r e severe and p r o l o n g e d u n e m p l o y m e n t h a s p r e v a i l e d a n d w h e r e t h e local authori­t i e s h a v e "Been u n a b l e t o p r o v i d e n e c e s s a r y w o r k s . - ! A t t h e c l o s e ' o f l a s t S e s s i o n t h e p r i n c i p l e of e x p e d i t i n g t he grant of p o w e r s 1 ' n e e d e d ' i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h w o r k s d e s i g n e d to relieve u n e m p l o y m e n t ' w a s g r e a t l y e x t e n d e d b y t h e p a s s i n g of t h e Public W o r k s " F a c i l i t i e s 1 ' A c t . 1 T h a t A c t p r o v i d e s a n a l te rna t ive to

ordinary P r i v a t e B i l l l e g i s l a t i o n w h i c h wi l l ve ry , m a t e r i a l l y s h o r t e n the process of o b t a i n i n g s t a t u t o r y p o w e r s i n s u c h c a s e s b y loca l authori t ies a n d p u b l i c u t i l i t y u n d e r t a k i n g s . T h e A c t a l so m a k e s available a g r e a t l y s impl i f i ed a n d m o r e e x p e d i t i o u s p r o c e d u r e for the compul so ry a c q u i s i t i o n of l a n d . a n d e a s e m e n t s .

. Development (Loan"Guarantees arid Grants) Act, 1 9 2 9 .

T h e fo l lowing T a b l e s h o w s t h e s c h e m e s a p p r o v e d for g r a n t o n the recommendation of t h e A d v i s o r y . C o m m i t t e e a p p o i n t e d u n d e r Pan I of t h e Ac t u p t o 3 0 t h S e p t e m b e r , 1930 ( i n c l u d i n g t h o s e contained i n C m d . 3449 a n d C m d . 3519) : —

' T A B L E I .

P resen t Value of Grants .

NaturNaturee ooff UndorUndor-­takingtakingss receivinreceivingg

AssistanceAssistance..

TotaTotall Es t imateEs t imatedd

CosCostt ooff ScliomesScliomes..

TotaTotall Es t imateEs t imatedd ExchequeExchequerr

Gran t sGran t s .. Amount . Percentage

of Total Es t imated

Cost: 11.. 22.. 33.. 4. 5.

£ £ £ Per cent. RailwayRailwayss (excludin(excludingg

docks)docks).. DockDockss (includin(includingg rai lrai l-­

way-owneway-ownedd docks)docks).. WateWaterr GaGass ElectricitElectricityy ......

22,181,663

*3,681,482

838,739 1,425,624

83,722

7,316,188

1,638,146

304,658 281,036

10,175

5,184,201

1,079,191

245,435 247,085

8,816 -

23

29

29 17 11 .

TotaTotall 28,211,230 9,550,203 6,764,728 ' 2 4

* This figure includes a sum of £1,350,000 for certain dock schemes which: are now understood to be subject to reconsideration. ' '-:

I n add i t i on to the grant s c h e m e s se t o u t a b o v e i t h a s b e e n agreed to guarantee under P a r t I of t h e A c t a loan of £ 2 0 6 , 0 0 0 for expendi ture on an "electricity supply s c h e m e ' ' e s t i m a t e d ' t o cos t £236,000: T h e tota l , est imated cos t of t h e e l e c t r i c i t y s c h e m e s approved under P a r t I of t h e A c t i s t h e r e f o r e £ 3 1 9 , 7 2 2 , a n d t h e total for schemes of all classes £ 2 8 , 4 4 7 ; 2 3 0 . - m o .. ijemsi

The fo l lowing T a b l e s h o w s , t h e s c h e m e s . a p p r o v e d for g r a n t o h the recommendation of,, t h e - C o m m i t t e e . a p p o i n t e d , u n d e r P a r t i l of the Act ( the .Unemployment , G r a n t s C o m m i t t e e ) , f r o m . 1 s t J u n e , 1029, to 3 0 t h S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 3 0 ( i n c l u d i n g t h o s e . . c o n t a i n e d i n Cmd. 3449 and. Cnid. 3519). . fT^e^Sgurie 's 6 in-this T a b l e ^ r ^ j e ^ M 2,397 schemes s u b m i t t e d b y -865 loca l a u t h o r i t i e s , a n d o t h e r statutory b o d i e s :-—

8488- - - A g ­

TABLE I I .

Present Value of Grants. TotaTotall TotaTotall ''

EstimateEstimatedd EstimateEstimatedd NaturNaturee ooff SchemeScheme.. CosCostt ooff

WorksWorks.. ExchequeExchequerr

GrantsGrants.. Amount,. . . .,

Percentage i , y T o t a lj . Lstimated

r r

1 ! . Cost. 11.. 22..

£ 33.. £

"' 4. "£

i 5. Per cent.

11.. LoaLoann schemes—Reschemes—Re-­venuvenuoo -- producinproducingg

22.. L o aL o a nn s c h e m e ss c h e m e s --24,608,187 9,619,000 7,103,000

29

Non-revenuNon-revenuee propro-­ducingducing..

33.. SchemeSchemess financedfinanced otherwisotherwisee thathann

21,000,490

1,158,018

17,941,000

587,000

11,677,000

587,000

5 6

51 bbyy loanloan..

TotaTotall ...... 46,766,695 28,147,000 19,367,000 41

Sumrnary of Schemes. T h e f o l l o w i n g T a b l e c o n t a i n s a s u m m a r y of t h e various types

of s c h e m e a p p r o v e d u n d e r t h e A c t , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e es t imated cost of e a c h t y p e of s c h e m e : —

TABLE I I I .

Total Estimated Cost of Approved Schemes.

NaturNaturee ooff SchemesSchemes.. Under Part I . Under Part II. Total.

£ £ Railways (excluding docks) . . . 22,181,663 22,181,663 Docks and harbours (including 3,681,482 4,949,707 8,631,189

railway-owned docks and harbours).

Water supply ... ... 838,739 5,610,690 6,449,429 Electricity 319,722 12,526,303 12,846,025 Gas 1,425,624 901,872 2,327,496 Sewage . . . ... , — '- 8,779,357 8,7 79,357 Land reclamation and drainage — 1,695,242 1,695,242 Sea defence works . . . . . 1,288,472 1,288,472 Unclassified roads 5,973,667 5,973,667 Parks, recreation grounds, etc. ' .. A- ' 1,904,886 1,904,886 Civic Buildings ; and Public 1,563,218 1,563,218

Institutions. - ;. River-improvement ... . , 654,629 654,629 Baths and washhouses 479,812. 479.S12 Sanitation — 316,491 316,491 Cemeteries . ... 55,237 55,237 Miscellaneous .. . ' - 67,112 67,112

- . . . * - - ,VCi.

Total 28,447,230 46,766,695 75,213,925

Colonial Development Act, 1 9 2 9 .

Section I I of C m d . 3519 o u t l i n e d p r o g r e s s u n d e r t h e C o l o n i a l Deve lopment A c t u n t i l 2 8 t h F e b r u a r y , . 1 9 3 0 , b y w h i c h d a t e schemes i n v o l v i n g a t o t a l e s t i m a t e d e x p e n d i t u r e of £ 5 , 6 5 0 , 0 0 0 f r o m Home a n d Colon ia l f u n d s - h a d b e e n a p p r o v e d u n d e r t h e A c t . .

Up to 3 0 t h S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 3 0 , f u r t h e r a s s i s t a n c e h a d b e e n r e c o m ­mended by t h e C o l o n i a l D e v e l o p m e n t A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e i n respect of d e v e l o p m e n t w o r k s i n K e n y a , T a n g a n y i k a T e r r i t o r y , Nor thern 1 R h o d e s i a , N y a s a l a n d , S o m a l i l a n d , G o l d C o a s t , N i g e r i a , the W e s t I n d i e s , C y p r u s , M a u r i t i u s , S e y c h e l l e s , N o r t h B o r n e o ,

B r i t i s h H o n d u r a s , W e s t e r n P a c i f i c , P a l e s t i n e a n d T r a n s -Jorclania, F a l k l a n d I s l a n d s , S t . H e l e n a , B e c h u a n a l a n d a n d S w a z i ­land. T h e t o t a l e s t i m a t e d cos t of t h e s c h e m e s r e c o m m e n d e d for assistance b y t h e C o m m i t t e e f r o m i t s i n c e p t i o n u n t i l 3 0 t h S e p ­tetuber, 1930, a n d a p p r o v e d b y t h e T r e a s u r y , w a s £ 8 , 3 7 4 , 6 9 7 . Of (his total £ 4 , 1 2 2 , 4 4 0 r e p r e s e n t e d t h e cos t of s c h e m e s i n E a s t Africa, w h i c h wi l l b e m e t b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t s of t h e t e r r i t o r i e s concerned f rom l o a n s r a i s e d u n d e r t h e P a l e s t i n e a n d E a s t Af r i ca Loans A c t , 1 9 2 6 , a s a m e n d e d b y t h e C o l o n i a l D e v e l o p m e n t Act, 1929. Of t h e t o t a l of £ 8 , 3 7 5 , 0 0 0 i t i s e s t i m a t e d t h a t some .-£3,300,000 wi l l b e s p e n t i n G r e a t B r i t a i n . , I n a d d i t i o n t o the s c h e m e s c o v e r e d b y t h i s figure of £ 8 , 3 7 5 , 0 0 0 , f u r t h e r s c h e m e s under t h e P a l e s t i n e a n d E a s t Af r i ca L o a n s A c t h a v e b e e n i n a u g u ­rated, t h e e s t i m a t e d cos t b e i n g s o m e £ 4 , 8 2 0 , 0 0 0 .

Road Fund.

Under t h e Trunk Road Programme ( t h e t o t a l of w h i c h w a s raised in J u l y l a s t t o £ 2 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ) t h e s c h e m e s a p p r o v e d a m o u n t e d at 30th S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 3 0 , t o o v e r £ 1 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , " o f w h i c h s c h e m e s represent ing e x p e n d i t u r e of ove r £ 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 h a d b e e n de f in i t e ly approved for g r a n t a n d t h e b a l a n c e a p p r o v e d i n p r i n c i p l e . T h e majority of t h e s c h e m e s a p p r o v e d w i l l cos t i n d i v i d u a l l y o v e r £100,000 e a c h , i n c l u d i n g 3 3 s c h e m e s of w i d e n i n g a n d r e c o n s t r u e ­tion and 12 i m p o r t a n t b y - p a s s s c h e m e s .

Under t h e Five-Year Programme of £ 2 7 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 , t h e s c h e m e s approved a m o u n t e d a t 3 0 t h S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 3 0 , t o n e a r l y £ 2 5 ; 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , of which s c h e m e s r e p r e s e n t i n g e x p e n d i t u r e of n e a r l y £ 9 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 had b e e n de f in i t e ly a p p r o v e d for g r a n t a n d t h e , b a l a n c e a p p r o v e d in pr inc ip le . N e a r l y ha l f t h e s c h e m e s a p p r o v e d ' w i l l c o s t i n d i v i d u ­ally over £ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 e a c h , i n c l u d i n g 2 0 s c h e m e s of w i d e n i n g - . a n d reconst ruct ion l ; a h d - 3 0 n e w s e c t i o n s ;of r o a d df' w h i c h 1 ' 7 5 a r e important b y - p a s s r o a d s . ^ " ', I - . . "

It is e s t i m a t e d t h a t t h e R o a d F u n d l i ab i l i t y i n r e s p e c t of t h e whole of t h e . s c h e m e s - a l r eady . a p p r o v e d w i l l b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y £30,000,000. ' ' ' - ' i :--/?

L

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e a b o v e , t h e Annual Programme deals with s c h e m e s of i m p r o v e m e n t of c lass i f ied r o a d s a n d b r idges of lesser m a g n i t u d e . T h e A n n u a l P r o g r a m m e s c h e m e s a p p r o v e d for grant u n d e r t h e . p r e s e n t G o v e r n m e n t ( h e . , s i n c e 3 0 t h Augus t 1929) a m o u n t e d a t 3 0 t h S e p t e m b e r t o £ 9 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . I t is e s t imated that t h e E o a d F u n d l i ab i l i t y in r e s p e c t of t h e s e s c h e m e s willa p p r o x i m a t e l y £ 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 .

A s e x p l a i n e d i n P a r l i a m e n t a r y , P a p e r C m d . 3 4 4 9 , t h e Five-Year a n d A n n u a l p r o g r a m m e s a b s o r b t h e p r e v i o u s p r o g r a m m e for 1 9 2 9 - 3 0 .

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e a b o v e , g r a n t s h a v e b e e n m a d e by the Unem­p l o y m e n t G r a n t s C o m m i t t e e ( a s s h o w n i n T a b l e l i t on pao-e 4) i n r e s p e c t of e x p e n d i t u r e e s t i m a t e d a t a b o u t £ 6 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 in^con­n e x i o n w i t h unc la s s i f i ed r o a d s a n d b r i d g e s .

'. Other Programmes..

I n C m d . 3519 p a r t i c u l a r s w e r e g i v e n of o t h e r a r rangements u n d e r w h i c h w o r k s w o u l d b e u n d e r t a k e n by o r w i t h t h e assistance of d e p a r t m e n t s w h o s e f u n c t i o n s a r e s u c h a s t o "enable t h e m to m a k e s o m e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d s t h e a l l e v i a t i o n of unemployment . T h e M i n i s t r y of A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F i s h e r i e s h a d u p to t h e 30th Sep­t e m b e r a g r e e d to a s s i s t 175 l a n d d r a i n a g e s c h e m e s , submit ted by l a n d d r a i n a g e a u t h o r i t i e s , w h i c h a r e e s t i m a t e d t o cos t £2-36,000 in a d d i t i o n t o t h e s c h e m e s r e f e r r e d t o i n T a b l e I I I a b o v e . * T h e same d e p a r t m e n t h a d a g r e e d t o a s s i s t 4 5 9 s c h e m e s of field drainage e s t i m a t e d t o cos t £ 4 8 , 0 0 0 , a n d 1 3 3 s c h e m e s for t h e supply of water t o a g r i c u l t u r a l h o l d i n g s a t a n e s t i m a t e d cos t of £ 9 3 , 0 0 0 .

T h e D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n h a v e p o w e r t o a s s i s t agriculture a n d r u r a l i n d u s t r i e s , t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d i m p r o v e m e n t of fishery h a r b o u r s , a n d l a n d d r a i n a g e a n d r e c l a m a t i o n , a n d between the d a t e w h e n t h e p r e s e n t G o v e r n m e n t a s s u m e d office and the 30th S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 3 0 , t h e t o t a l e s t i m a t e d cos t of t h e schemes in r e s p e c t of w h i c h t h e D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n h a d agreed to r e n d e r financial a s s i s t a n c e w a s £ 8 0 7 , 0 0 0 . T h e s e s c h e m e s are quite s e p a r a t e f r o m t h o s e d e a l t w i t h , b y o t h e r G o v e r n m e n t a l authorit ies.

R e f e r e n c e w a s m a d e i n C m d . 3 5 1 9 to t h e p r o g r a m m e of work a t a c o s t of s o m e £ 6 0 , 0 0 0 , b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t o v e r t h e w i n t e r 1929-30 b y t h e Office of W o r k s . T h i s p r o g r a m m e h a s n o w b e e n completed, b u t d u r i n g t h e p r e s e n t w i n t e r w o r k s s u i t a b l e for t h e employment of u n s k i l l e d l a b o u r o n A n c i e n t M o n u m e n t s a n d H i s t o r i c Buildings a n d i n t h e E o y a l P a r k s wi l l b e c a r r i e d o u t b y t h e same depart­m e n t a t a cos t of £ 1 2 9 , 0 0 0 .

T h e a c c e l e r a t e d p r o g r a m m e of t r u n k t e l e p h o n e const ruct ion by t h e G e n e r a l P o s t Office, a t a n e s t i m a t e d cos t of £1 ,500 ,000 , to

* The land drainage schemes where the work is to be financed by the local authority out of a loan are dealt with by the Unemployment Grants Committee.

/hioli r e fe rence w a s m a d e i n C m d . 3519, . is b e i n g , a c t i v e l y c a r r i e d ut in a d d i t i o n t o t h e m a i n c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o g r a m m e of a c a p i t a l

of £ 1 0 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 .

As is e x p l a i n e d in t h e p r e f a t o r y n o t e , a s p e c i a k s u m o f £ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 has been m a d e a v a i l a b l e for t h e p r o m o t i o n of' w o r k s I n - s p e c i a l l y necessitous a r e a s , .-£440,000 b e i n g a l l o c a t e d t o ; w o r k s i n - E n g l a n d and W a l e s a n d £ 6 0 , 0 0 0 t o w o r k s i n ' S c o t l a n d . S c h e m e s ^ a n England a n d W a l e s t o a t o t a l v a l u e of £ 4 1 0 , 0 0 0 h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n approved by t h e M i n i s t r y of H e a l t h .

For t he p u r p o s e s of l a n d s e t t l e m e n t in S c o t l a n d t h e g r a n t i n

o s t

i,l to t h e A g r i c u l t u r e ( S c o t l a n d ) F u n d w a s i n c r e a s e d i n t h e V o t e for the financial y e a r 1 9 3 0 - 3 1 f r o m £ 1 1 5 , 0 0 0 ( t h e a m o u n t v o t e d in 19-29-30) t o £ 1 7 5 , 0 0 0 . F a r m a n d field d r a i n a g e s c h e m e s c o s t i n g some £ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 a n d i n v o l v i n g a s s i s t a n c e f r o m t h e E x c h e q u e r t o t h e extent of ct '30,000 h a v e b e e n a p p r o v e d b y t h e D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i ­culture for S c o t l a n d , a n d t h e L a n d D r a i n a g e ( S c o t l a n d ) A c t , 1 9 3 0 , under w h i c h m a i n d r a i n a g e w o r k s c o s t i n g s o m e £ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 wi l l b e proceeded w i t h o v e r a p e r i o d of 5 y e a r s , i s n o w in o p e r a t i o n . - , . Im­provement s c h e m e s t o S c o t t i s h fishery h a r b o u r s a t a ; cos t of a b o u t £1.0,000, h a v e b e e n a p p r o v e d for a s s i s t a n c e f rom t h e f u n d s of t h e Fishery B o a r d fo r S c o t l a n d .

The e x p a n s i o n of t h e p r o g r a m m e of t h e F o r e s t r y C o m m i s s i o n has a l ready b e e n d e s c r i b e d i n C m d . 3 5 1 9 .

a

Summary.

The va lue of s c h e m e s u n d e r v a r i o u s p r o g r a m m e s w h i c h : h a v e been a p p r o v e d u p t o S e p t e m b e r 3 0 t h , m a y - b e : s u m m a r i s e d . : . a s follows : —

D e v e l o p m e n t ( L o a n G u a r a n t e e s a n d G r a n t s ) A c t , 1929 , P a r t I , .... . 2 8 , 4 4 7 ; 2 3 0

D e v e l o p m e n t ( L o a n G u a r a n t e e s a n d G r a n t s ) A c t , 1929 , P a r t II ' 4 6 , 7 6 6 ^ 6 9 5

Colonial D e v e l o p m e n t A c t , 1 9 2 9 . . . . 8 , 3 7 5 ; 0 0 0 E o a d F u n d . . . . " 4 9 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0

:M i s c e l l a n e o u s .A - 3 ' 8 4 0 , 3 2 3

T o t a l 1 . . . I £ 1 3 5 ; 9 2 8 ; 2 4 8

On the b a s i s c o m m o n l y a c c e p t e d t h a t £ 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 p r o v i d e s w o r k for one y e a r for 4 , 0 0 0 m e n , t h e s e s c h e m e s w i l l p r o v i d e w b r k ' ; t o t h e extent of m o r e t h a n 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 m a n y e a r s . "

P A R T II .

Industrial Reorganisation, etc.

A l t h o u g h a s wi l l b e s e e n f r o m t h e f o r e g o i n g t a b l e s , t h e p o l i c y of p r o m o t i n g p u b l i c w o r k s i n re l ief of u n e m p l o y m e n t h a s been vkor­pus ly ' p u r s u e d , i t m u s t ' b e r e c o g n i s e d t h a t ' s u c h a pol icy i s subject t o c e r t a i n g e n e r a l l i m i t a t i o n s . T h e a c c e l e r a t i o n of p r o g r a m m e s of w o r k by loca l a u t h o r i t i e s a n d m a n y p u b l i c u t i l i t y u n d e r t a k i n g l i a s b e e n i n p r o g r e s s for t h e l a s t t e n y e a r s , a n d d u r i n g that p e r i o d t h e e c o n o m i c e q u i p m e n t of t h e c o u n t r y — i t s r o a d s , bridges, d o c k s , r a i l w a y s a n d t h e l i k e — h a s b e e n g r e a t l y i m p r o v e d . Bu t in a c o u n t r y a l r e a d y v e r y h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d , t h e p r o c e s s of an t ic ipa t iu" f u t u r e n e e d s c a n n o t i n t h e n a t u r e of t h i n g s c o n t i n u e indefinitely. T h e a r r e a r s of w o r k w h i c h h a d a c c u m u l a t e d d u r i n g t h e w a r years h a v e b e e n o v e r t a k e n , a n d t h e r e a r e s i g n s t h a t t h e visible pro­g r a m m e s of p u b l i c w o r k s w h i c h c a n c o n f o r m to a n y reasonable t e s t of e c o n o m i c j u s t i f i c a t i o n , n o w e m b r a c e , t o a l a r g e e x t e n t what c a n use fu l ly b e d o n e i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e .

T h e p r o m o t i o n of p u b l i c w o r k s is a v o w e d l y on ly a temporary e m e r g e n c y m e a s u r e . S i d e b y s ide w i t h t h i s , t h e G o v e r n m e n t are p u r s u i n g a l o n g r a n g e po l i cy of d e v e l o p m e n t .

Industrial Reorganisation.

. A s w a s s t a t e d i n C m d . 3 5 1 9 , r e f e r r e d t o a b o v e , i t is t o t h e iu­c r e a s e d p r o v i s i o n of o r d i n a r y i n d u s t r i a l e m p l o y m e n t t h r o u g h the r e v i v a l of o u r t r a d e a n d i n d u s t r y t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t attach p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e . T h e i r w o r k in t h e i n d u s t r i a l field m a y be g r o u p e d u n d e r t w o h e a d s : t h e e n c o u r a g e m e n t of r e o r g a n i s a t i o n of i n d u s t r y a t h o m e a n d of t r a d e a b r o a d .

L e g i s l a t i o n h a s b e e n p a s s e d p u t t i n g t h e coa l i n d u s t r y of the c o u n t r y f o r t h e f irst t i m e i n i t s h i s t o r y i n a p o s i t i o n t o promote a n a t i o n a l s a l e s p o l i c y a n d o r g a n i s a t i o n a n d to d e a l w i t h international p r o b l e m s o n a f o o t i n g m o r e n e a r l y e q u a l t o t h a t of i t s competitors a b r o a d .

I m m e d i a t e l y u p o n t a k i n g office t h e G o v e r n m e n t a p p o i n t e d Com­mi t te . es t o c o n s i d e r a n d r e p o r t u p o n t h e c o n d i t i o n a n d prospects of t h e C o t t o n a n d I r o n a n d S t e e l I n d u s t r i e s , a n d t o m a k e reconi­m e n d a t i o n s a s t o a n y a c t i o n t h a t m i g h t be t a k e n t o i m p r o v e their p o s i t i o n . T h e R e p o r t s of t h e s e C o m m i t t e e s h a v e n o w been r ece ived . . '''",).\-]'k- -t .,[ . \ ..., T h e R e p o r t o n i t h e . C o t t o n I n d u s t r y ( C m d . 3615) , recommended t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t . s h o u l d ; f ake e v e r y : s t e p in t h e i r power to u r g e u p o n , e m p l o y e r s a n d o p e r a t i v e s i n L a n c a s h i r e t h e importance of c o n s i d e r i n g c e r t a i n m e a n s , of1 r e d u c i n g : t h e c o s t s of production wi th , a v i e w fo the , r e c o v e r y ;of. los t , t r a d e . T h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n is b e i n g a c t e d u p o n , a n d t h e G o v e r n m e n t i s i n c lose a n d constant

fj tj i v

Consultation w i t h a l l t h e i n t e r e s t s c o n c e r n e d u p o n t h e b a s i s of t h e Report. T h e R e p o r t o n t h e I r o n a n d S t e e l I n d u s t r y is s i m i l a r l y

Ihc subject of d i s cus s ion w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s - of t h e i n d u s t r y a n d of nuance .

One of t h e m e a s u r e s r e c p m m e n d e d in t h e R e p o r t o n the ; C o t t o n industry i s t h e f o r m a t i o n of l a r g e u n i t s . . C a r e f u l . c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s jbeing g iven t o t h e q u e s t i o n h o w f a r s imi la r , m e a s u r e s a r e r e q u i r e d In other i n d u s t r i e s , a n d i n c e r t a i n cases m e a s u r e s of r e o r g a n i s a t i o n Ire under d i s c u s s i o n . T h e s e m a t t e r s a r e of c o u r s e h i g h l y con f iden ­lial, affecting a s t h e y d o t h e p o s i t i o n of i n d i v i d u a l firms, a n d c a n n o t be referred t o i n de t a i l . F u r t h e r , t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s l e a d i n g u p t o [reorganisation c o v e r a l a r g e n u m b e r of i n t e r e s t s a n d m u s t of t h e i r nature be de l i c a t e a n d p r o l o n g e d .

Wi th a v i e w t o e n s u r i n g t h a t finance wi l l b e a v a i l a b l e for s o u n d Ischeines of r e o r g a n i s a t i o n d i s c u s s i o n s h a v e t a k e n p l ace w i t h l e a d i n g financial i n t e r e s t s a n d a n e w o r g a n i s a t i o n h a s c o m e i n t o b e i n g ,

[known a s t h e B a n k e r s ' I n d u s t r i a l D e v e l o p m e n t C o m p a n y , w i t h t h e pupport of t h e l e a d i n g b a n k s a n d financial h o u s e s , t o c o n s i d e r Ischeines s u b m i t t e d by t h e bas ic i n d u s t r i e s of t h i s c o u n t r y for t h e [purpose of t h e i r r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n , e i t h e r b y i n d u s t r i e s o r b y r e g i o n s .

Monetary Conditions.

As a s t i m u l u s t o t r a d e r e c o v e r y a n d i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t l o w rates for s h o r t t e r m b o r r o w i n g h a v e a n e s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e . C h e a p money d e p e n d s o n a v a r i e t y of i n f l u e n c e s , m a n y of t h e m w o r l d factors o u t s i d e t h e c o n t r o l or g u i d a n c e of a n y s i n g l e c o u n t r y ; a n d many causes h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e a t t a i n m e n t of t h e e a s y c r e d i t conditions w h i c h n o w w i d e l y p r e v a i l . B u t t o w a r d s t h e i r a t t a i n m e n t in this c o u n t r y t h e G o v e r n m e n t w e r e a b l e t o m a k e a m a t e r i a l c o n ­tribution b y t h e i r h a n d l i n g of t h e floating debt . , I n . t h e a u t u m n of 1929, a n d t h e e a r l y m o n t h s of 1 9 3 0 , w h e n i t b e c a m e e v i d e n t t h a t there was a s u r p l u s of l o n g t e r m m o n e y a v a i l a b l e for . i n v e s t m e n t (he public w e r e i n v i t e d to . s u b s c r i b e t o i s s u e s of 5 p e r c e n t , a n d 4i per c e n t . C o n v e r s i o n S t o c k . T h e s e n e w i s sues p r o v i d e d , ove r and above t h e a m o u n t s r e q u i r e d t o m e e t m a t u r i n g d e b t , a , f r ee s u m of about £160,000,000. T h i s n e w m o n e y , a s i t b e c a m e a v a i l a b l e i n stages, w a s u s e d t o r e d u c e t h e n e e d for p u b l i c b o r r o w i n g s i n t h e short t e r m m a r k e t o n T r e a s u r y B i l l s . T h e r e p a y m e n t of t h e s e B i l l s had the effect of i n c r e a s i n g t h e m a r k e t r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e for t r a d e and c o m m e r c e , w h i l e d i m i n i s h i n g t h e d e m a n d h p 6 n t h e m for n o n ­trade p u r p o s e s . T h e p r o c e s s w a s so dev i sed a n d t i m e d a s t o h a s t e n the rap id t r a n s i t i o n frOm h i g h r a t e s : t o e a s y c o n d i t i o n s ' / w h i c h w a s the o u t s t a n d i n g m o n e t a r y ' f e a t u r e d u r i n g ^ t h e 1 p a s t ' y e a r ; -arid t h e Government t h u s c o n t r i b u t e d m a t e r i a l l y t o t h e fall i n " T r e a s u r y

2 jBill r a t e s f r o m 6 p e r c e n t , t o l i t t l e m d r e ' t h a n ' p e r c e n t : ' a n d t h e re -es tab l i shment of t h e m o n e t a r y c o n d i t i o n s m o s t ' l i k e l y t o f a v o u r

F L T X I Ua world r e c o v e r y ; o f t r a d e , 'J - ' --'0k)i: GAISO

Export Trade.

A s r e g a r d s e x p o r t t r a d e , t h e G o v e r n m e n t i n A p r i l of t h i s year b r o u g h t i n t o b e i n g t h e O v e r s e a s T r a d e D e v e l o p m e n t Council at t h e i n s t a n c e of, a n d for t h e p u r p o s e of a s s i s t i n g , t h e Department of O v e r s e a s T r a d e i n t h e i r s t u d y of p r e s e n t a n d p o t e n t i a l markets, i n . t h e i r i n v e s t i g a t i o n of r e a s o n s for t h e d e c l i n e i n . E x p o r t s , and i n t h e i r s e a r c h for f ields of p r o f i t a b l e e x p a n s i o n of B r i t i s h Trade. I n c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e i n d u s t r i e s c o n c e r n e d , s t e p s h a v e already b e e n t a k e n w h i c h s h o u l d l ead t o a n e x p a n s i o n of t r a d e overseas. T h e m o r e i m p o r t a n t of t h e s e s t e p s i n c l u d e t h e d e s p a t c h abroad of T r a d e M i s s i o n s . A M i s s i o n h a s j u s t r e t u r n e d f r o m S o u t h Africa, a n d t h e O v e r s e a s T r a d e D e v e l o p m e n t C o u n c i l is d i s c u s s i n g with t h e l e a d e r a n d m e m b e r s of t h e M i s s i o n t h e b e s t m e a n s of making t h e w o r k of t h e M i s s i o n a s effect ive a s p o s s i b l e . A n o t h e r very i m p o r t a n t M i s s i o n — w h i c h i n c l u d e s a s p e c i a l l y c o n s t i t u t e d Cotton S u b - M i s s i o n — i s a t p r e s e n t v i s i t i n g J a p a n a n d C h i n a .

A f u r t h e r a c t i v i t y w h i c h i s b e i n g d e v e l o p e d b y t h e Depar tment of O v e r s e a s T r a d e is t h a t of a r r a n g i n g for t r a d e i nves t i ga t i ons in s e l e c t e d o v e r s e a s m a r k e t s on b e h a l f of p a r t i c u l a r i n d u s t r i e s . There is a t p r e s e n t i n S o u t h A m e r i c a a t r a d e d e l e g a t i o n f rom Sheffield u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p of t h e M a s t e r C u t l e r , t h e r e p o r t s of whose w o r k a r e d i s t i n c t l y e n c o u r a g i n g : a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n o n beha l f of the B o o t a n d S h o e i n d u s t r y is p r o c e e d i n g i n N o r t h e r n E u r o p e .

T h e G o v e r n m e n t h a v e d e c i d e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e British E m p i r e T r a d e E x h i b i t i o n t o b e h e l d i n B u e n o s A i r e s i n 1931, a n d t h e i r dec i s ion h a s l ed t o c o - o r d i n a t e d efforts b y t h e British m o t o r , e l e c t r i c a l a n d a i r c r a f t i n d u s t r i e s o n a v e r y l a r g e sca le .

C o m p l e m e n t a r y t o t h e w o r k of t h e G o v e r n m e n t i n h e l p i n g in­d u s t r y t o r e t a i n o ld a n d o p e n n e w f o r e i g n m a r k e t s , s t a n d s the w o r k of t h e E x p o r t C r e d i t s G u a r a n t e e D e p a r t m e n t . Provision w a s m a d e i n t h e O v e r s e a s T r a d e A c t , 1 9 3 0 , for t h e continuance of t h e s c h e m e t o M a r c h 3 1 s t , 1 9 3 5 , a n d t h e i n c r e a s i n g e x t e n t to w h i c h recourse . h a s b e e n h a d t o t h e f ac i l i t i e s af forded s ince the p r e s e n t s c h e m e b e g a n i n 1926 m a y b e g a t h e r e d f r o m t h e following figures of e x p o r t s a s s i s t e d : —

9 m o n t h s t o 3 1 . 3 . 1 9 2 7 365 ,000

1 2 m o n t h s t o ' 3 1 . 3 . 1 9 2 8 2 , 4 5 5 , 0 0 0

1 2 m o n t h s t o 3 1 . 3 . 1 9 2 9 4 , 2 8 3 , 0 0 0

. 12 m o n t h s t o ' ' 3 1 . 3 . 1 9 3 0 . . 5 ,661 ,000

6 m o n t h s t o 3 0 * 9 . 1 9 3 6 5 ,041 ,000

£ 1 7 , 8 0 5 , 0 0 0

u

Agriculture. Assis tance t o w a r d s t h e r e v i v a l of i n d u s t r y p r o p e r , m u s t , u n l e s s

the ex i s t ing soc ia l d i s e q u i l i b r i u m is t o b e c o m e e v e n m o r e p r o ­nouuced, b e a c c o m p a n i e d b y m e a s u r e s t o r e s t o r e a g r i c u l t u r e i n this c o u n t r y t o a m o r e p r o s p e r o u s c o n d i t i o n . 1 T h e G o v e r n m e n f s

[proposals' i n r e s p e c t of a g r i c u l t u r e a r e d e s i g n e d to i n c r e a s e t h e uuinber of p e r s o n s d e r i v i n g t h e i r l i ve l ihood f rom ' t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of the l a n d a n d a l so t o i n c r e a s e t h e p r o v i s i o n of i n s t r u c t i o n a n d demons t ra t ion so a s t o g i v e a l l o c c u p i e r s of a g r i c u l t u r a l h o l d i n g s improved fac i l i t i es for c a r r y i n g o n t h e i r b u s i n e s s w i t h t h e m a x i m u m efficiency. T h e A g r i c u l t u r a l L a n d ( U t i l i s a t i o n ) B i l l n o w be fo re t h e House of C o m m o n s m a k e s p rov i s ion for a n e x p e r i m e n t i n l a r g e ­scale f a r m i n g a n d a l so for t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of n e w d e m o n s t r a t i o n centres w h e r e r e q u i r e d . I n a d d i t i o n , a r r a n g e m e n t s a r e t o b e m a d e for r e c l a i m i n g a n d r e c o n d i t i o n i n g l a n d i n o r d e r t h a t a g r i c u l t u r a l production a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l e m p l o y m e n t m a y b e e x t e n d e d . T h e s e measures w i l l , b o t h d i r e c t l y a n d i n d i r e c t l y , p r o v i d e o p e n i n g s for additional e m p l o y m e n t . I n t h e s a m e w a y , t h e p r o p o s a l s i n t h e Bill for t h e p r o v i s i o n of s m a l l h o l d i n g s , b o t h for t h e u n e m p l o y e d and for o t h e r p e r s o n s c a p a b l e of c u l t i v a t i n g s u c h h o l d i n g s eff icient ly, will c rea te a d d i t i o n a l w o r k b y t h e e r e c t i o n of d w e l l i n g h o u s e s , f a r m buildings, p r o v i s i o n of w a t e r s u p p l y a n d o t h e r e q u i p m e n t n e c e s s a r y for t h e s u b - d i v i s i o n of e x i s t i n g f a r m s s e l e c t e d a s s u i t a b l e for con ­version i n t o s m a l l h o l d i n g s . O v e r a n d a b o v e t h i s , t h e s m a l l h o l d i n g s themselves , i n a d d i t i o n t o p r o v i d i n g a fu l le r o p p o r t u n i t y for e x i s t ­ing f a rm w o r k e r s a n d o t h e r s , w i l l , i t i s e x p e c t e d , e n a b l e m e n n o w unemployed i n o t h e r i n d u s t r i e s t o b e c o m e p e r m a n e n t l y se l f - suppor t ­ing. F o r p e r s o n s w h o a r e u n e m p l o y e d b u t , for o n e r e a s o n or another , a r e u n a b l e o r n o t s u i t e d t o b e c o m e s m a l l h o l d e r s , t h e B i l l makes p rov i s ion for t h e e x t e n s i o n of a l l o t m e n t s . T h e G o v e r n m e n t s proposal i s t o e x t e n d s u c h a l l o t m e n t c u l t i v a t i o n w h e r e s u i t a b l e land c a n b e f o u n d i n r e a s o n a b l y c lose p r o x i m i t y t o t h e h o m e s of persons w h o l l y o r p a r t l y u n e m p l o y e d .

I t is t h e i n t e n t i o n of t h e G o v e r n m e n t t o deve lop o r g a n i s e d marke t ing of h o m e a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c e . F o r t h i s p u r p o s e leg is ­lation wi l l b e i n t r o d u c e d t o f ac i l i t a t e t h e c o m p r e h e n s i v e o r g a n i s a ­tion of p r o d u c e r s for t h e s y s t e m a t i c m a r k e t i n g of t h e i r p r o d u c t s . Apart f rom l e g i s l a t i o n , t h e G o v e r n m e n t , a s a n e w d e p a r t u r e i n this field, h a s a l r e a d y p r o v i d e d f u n d s t o e n a b l e s t a n d a r d i s a t i o n schemes u n d e r t h e N a t i o n a l M a r k t o b e g i v e n w i d e p u b l i c i t y . Special p r o v i s i o n h a s a l so b e e n m a d e t o e n a b l e t h e w h o l e sub jec t of o rgan ised m a r k e t i n g t o b e e x h a u s t i v e l y s t u d i e d a t h o m e a n d abroad for t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d g u i d a n c e of t h e h o m e ' p r o d u c e r .

Closely a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a g r i c u l t u r e i s t h e w o r k of l a n d d r a i n a g e . The Act of t h i s y e a r p r o v i d e s for t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of n e w D r a i n ­age A u t h o r i t i e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y a n d g ive s t h e m c o m p r e ­hensive p o w e r s , inter alia, t o e x e c u t e l a n d d r a i n a g e s c h e m e s , m a n y

of w h i c h s h o u l d be of v e r y - s u b s t a n t i a l - p r o p o r t i o n s . T h e effect of t h i s m e a s u r e w i l l b e , i n c o u r s e of t i m e , t o con fe r a wider benefit o n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d afford a. g r e a t e r c o n t r i b u t i o n to t h e problem of u n e m p l o y m e n t relief. t h a n . i s p o s s i b l e u n d e r t h e sma l l e r schemes w h i c h a r e a t p r e s e n t - practicable.

- Housing. -V

S i n c e t h e W a r a - l i i rge ' p r o g r a m m e - oi j h o u s e - :bvUlding h a s been u n d e r t a k e n t o w a r d s w h i c h s u b s t a n t i a l ' a i d . h a s b e e n afforded from t h e E x c h e q u e r . T h e H o u s i n g A c t w h i c h w a s p a s s e d last Session p r o v i d e s n o t o n l y for t h e c o n t i n u a n c e of t h e a s s i s t a n c e available t o loca l a u t h o r i t i e s u n d e r t h e H o u s i n g F i n a n c i a l P r o v i s i o n s Act, 1 9 2 4 , a n d t h e s t a b i l i s i n g of t h e p r e s e n t r a t e of a s s i s t ance until 1 9 3 3 , b u t a l so p r o v i d e s spec i a l a s s i s t a n c e d e s i g n e d to faci l i ta te and e x p e d i t e t h e c l e a r a n c e of s l u m s a n d to p r e v e n t t h e c rea t ion of n e w s l u m s . T h e A c t p r o v i d e s m a c h i n e r y for a s y s t e m a t i c attack o n b a d h o u s i n g c o n d i t i o n s a n d for a l l n e c e s s a r y r e h o u s i n g . With I a v i e w t o s e c u r i n g c o n t i n u i t y of a c t i o n a n d a n a d e q u a t e vo lume of ! n e w C o n s t r u c t i o n , it. r e q u i r e s loca l a u t h o r i t i e s t o s u b m i t to the f M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h d u r i n g t h e p r e s e n t y e a r a p r o g r a m m e of the s t e p s t h e y p r o p o s e t o t a k e d u r i n g t h e e n s u i n g five y e a r s for deal­i n g w i t h h o u s i n g c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e i r a r e a s a n d for p rov id ing new a c c o m m o d a t i o n ; a n d a s i r iu l a r p r o g r a m m e is t o b e fu rn i shed each ! fifth y e a r . T h e A c t a l so c o n t a i n s spec ia l p r o v i s i o n des igned to I s e c u r e t h e e x e c u t i o n of c o m p r e h e n s i v e s c h e m e s for m e e t i n g the ! h o u s i n g n e e d s of r u r a l a r e a s .

A c o r r e s p o n d i n g A c t w a s p a s s e d for S c o t l a n d w i t h t h e object of e n c o u r a g i n g a s y s t e m a t i c a n d r a p i d i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e s lum con­d i t i o n s in t h a t c o u n t r y .

A ; i g o r o u s s t e p s a r e b e i n g t a k e n i n b o t h c o u n t r i e s to u rge local a u t h o r i t i e s t o m a k e a c t i v e u s e of t h e n e w p o w e r s confe r red upon t h e m .

T h e p u r p o s e u n d e r l y i n g t h e l o n g r a n g e po l i cy of t h e G o v e r n m e n t , a s d e s c r i b e d br ief ly i n t h e f o r e g o i n g p a r a g r a p h s , i s so t o improve the g e n e r a l e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y t h a t ful l a n d immedia te a d v a n t a g e m a y b e t a k e n of a n y i m p r o v e m e n t i n g e n e r a l world t r a d e c o n d i t i o n s . I t is o n l y t h r o u g h a n i n c r e a s e in n a t i o n a l pro­d u c t i v e and. - m a r k e t i n g eff ic iency t h a t t h e c a p a c i t y of i n d u s t r y to a b s o r b l a b o u r -will u l t i m a t e l y b e i n c r e a s e d . ­

(8188-S2) Wt. 17774-1246 12,12,60 11/30 P. St. Q. 304