FEWER WORKLESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 12

FEWER WORKLESS.

OFFICIAL RETURNS. REDUCTION OF OVER 15,800. SSOO MSN ON SUSTENANCE. (Bjr Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A reduction of 15,875, as against the corresponding figure for October 24, 103(1, is shown in unemployment returns as at October 23 last released by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, to-day. The return* include those On the register who are for health or oiher reason* unfit for employment. Compared with the figures for September, last the reduction' is 1872. . Details were, given by the Minister ■a follows:— Sept. 25, Oct. 23, 1037. 1937. Registered, but not on I relief. 2,220 1,803 On sustenance awaiting placement 9,fi1l 8.377 On s cheme No. 5 relief 4,714 4,442 Totals 16,3.14 14,682 On sustenance, totally unfit for employment for health or other reasons, but being afforded relief from the Rmployment Promotion Fund as at October 23 8,499 Eor the four-weekly period ended October 23 the expenditure from the' fund tinder the heading of promotion of employment, as distinct from relief expenditure, was estimated at £100,306. The new method of netting out the official monthly return* of unemployment registrations was commented on In an interview by Mr. Armstrong. This method was used in the return above, giving the figures for the four-weekly perira ended October 23. "Th» system is on the lines which I have followed in giving unemployment figures in several speeches recently," said Mr. Armatrong, "and is also in keeping with comments which I made in a fill) statement on the unemployment ' position published some weeks ago. I have maintained all along that recipients of sustenance who are not fit for work should not be classed as unemployed, and the new table has the effect of taking them out of the actual unemployment registrations, although still showing the number receiving relief from the employment promotion fund. In my opinion this is a desirable change. I as it gives a much better idea of the true position with regard to unabsorbed labour."