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THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 10, 1937.
The China Mail
Ninety-Second Year of · Publication SA Wyndhant Street, Hong Kong. Telephone. 20022. London Office:
17 Garrick
come tax, rates, and rent of in- dustrial undertakings to be es- tablished in the special areas.
The Government is, of course, right in thinking that the eco- nomič. forces set in motion by the rearmament programme will have a considerable effect on London, W.C.2.
unemployment, even in some of Notice To Contributors.
the special areas. It has also a All co
intended for fair case, in view of the demands addressed to the programmev will make on the
mpanied by limited supply
of building la and Address, bour, for not embarking on but ambitious public works in the
the the
not necessarily for
·as a
nsertion
arantes of good faith.
Subsenblion Rates.
One Year
Monthe
Months Postage Abro
- HK $36.00 HK$18.00 HK$ 9.00
Hong Kong, Saturday, April 10, 1937.
DEPRESSED AREAS
special areas at the moment. But the whole history of the pro- blem should surely... show that what the depressed areas, whe- ther "special" or merely "certi- fied," need is a long-term pro- gramme. The temporary attrac- tion of a munitions works or a "war potential" factory. is, no permanent solution. Its effect may be to create an even worse situation in a few years' time. In any cage, how much of the Mr. Baldwin is proceeding chronic unemployment of the with the Government's Bill for South Wales valleys, of the vil- the Depressed Areas in the face lages of West Cumberland, and of a barrage of criticism not only South-west Durham will be from the opposition but also touched by munition work? The from members on the Govern-Government does nothing to meet ment aide of the House of Com-the universal demand that there mons. Attack is chiefly concen-shall be a Minister, charged with trated on the fact that the Gov- special responsibility for these ernment seems to think that the areas. problem will be solved by the armaments programme, -plus"
.
inducements to new light indus-
some carefully hedged financial Checked By Referendum tries to settle in the -black-spots. The United States is not the The form of the White Paper only country to discover how recently issued is suggestive. It cramping to social progress may begins by reciting the grants be the inheritance of a written made and commitments entered Constitution designed to protect into. It holds out glowing hopes State rights under Federal rule. of the Special Areas Reconstruc- The referendum just taken in tion Association (Mr. Chamber- Australia aimed at amending the lain's venture in money-lending) Constitution at two points. One and of Lord Nuffield's trust of the proposals gubmitted to the (which was not intended as a people would have given the substitute for State action). It Commonwealth control of
tells how. Government contracts tion,the other would have ass
A
÷
for armaments have been lavish-abled it to bring national organ-: ed on the depressed areas. It isation to bear on the marketing:: becomes almost enthusiastic of Australian produce. To be about the money that is now to successful they needed to ob be poured out.. The munition tain a majority of votes factories will create "a large in a majority of the six amount of employment locally," States.
narrow majority and they will be a "considerable of the votes cast throughout the contribution to the permanent Commonwealth was in favour of wellbeing of those areas, since Federal control of aviation, but they will afford a measure of in only two of the States was::. continuous employment when the that majority reflected. The present deficiency programme is marketing proposal was decisive- made good." The next sentence ly defeated, both in the Common- takes away the effect by confes- wealth as a whole and in every sing that some of the factories State. The result is only an- are only intended to work in other, though an extreme, ex- war-time and "the permanent ample of the tendency shown. employment provided by them throughout Australian history in peace will be small. The list where the referendum has been of new factories is impressive used. In all twenty amendments but contains nothing new. Final of the Constitution have been ly comes the statistical argument proposed since 1901, and only that unemployment is falling three minor ones have succeeded. quite nicely.
It is not surprising that the At-
*
M
Having proved to its own satis-torney · General, Mr. Menzies, faction that there is nothing to should remark that if this vote worry about, that derelict com represents the real popular view munities do not exist, that all the Constitution is practically the talk of controlling the loca unalterable, and that tion of“ industry is theoretical Lyons, the Premier, should chatter which can safely be speak of the result as showing ignored; the Government pro- “an amazing anti-Federal spirit. dúces its long-awaited pro- The fact seems to be that the gramme. It is its answer to Sir voter in such cases does not con- Malcolm Stewart's report and, sider the proposals on their incidentally, meets only one of merits. He is apt to think of the his twenty points! The section Commonwealth Government as a begins with a great flourish. The remote but irksome institution Government has "good reason to and to feel that any grievances believe that the time has now he may have against it can be come" when with some financial ventilated by rejecting its sug- assistance new industrial under-gestions on the matter before takings can be attracted to the him. But Federal control areas. This remarkable dis- flying is a measure so necessary covery is made after three to progress and safety in the air years bombardment by the Com-that its rejection makes the need missioner. So at last the Gov- for more constitutional flexibility ernment empowers the Commis- imperative, and it will certainly sioner to contribute towards in- be sought,