NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20790, 25 February 1933, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION.

BETTER THAN OTHER COUNTRIES. UNEMPLOYED TOTALS COMPARED. [Fbom Oik Parliamentabt llepobxkk.J WELLINGTON, February 24. There are proportionately fewer un-employed-in New Zealand than in most other countries, according to the annual report of the Unemployment Board. "Although the unemployment problem developed to a serious stage in New Zealand at a later date than in most other countries, and the stages of ita development have been relatively more rapid the latest available statistics indicate that the proportion of unemployed to the total population is still considerably below the figures recorded in the majority of other countries," states the report. "At the same time, the methods adopted in New Zealand to relieve the situation are believed to be more comprehensive and continuous than eliewhere; and accordingly the average measure of relief granted compares more than favourably with that awarded in other countries." Germany is in the worst position with 95 in very 1000 of the population unemployed, representing at the end of March last 6,127,800 people. The United States comes next on the list with 86 in every 1000 and a total of 10,600,000. A table giving the comparative figures is given below. Unemployed No. of in Month Unenir every Country. in 1932. ployed. 1000. New Zealand March . 54,•'520 36 Great Britain and North Ireland .. March 2,809,100 61. New South Wales .. Feb. 100,000 40 South Australia .. Jan. 23,600 40 South Africa (whites only) .. April 24,000 13 United States March 10,600,000 86 Germany .. March 6,127,800 95 ' Owing to the varying methods of rceording the number of unemployed, it is practically impossible, states the report, to arrive at a fair basis of comparison, but the above figures show that unemployment in New Zealand has fortunately not by any means attained the same relative magnitude as in some other- countries. At September 30 last, the total number of men working on relief in New Zealand was 67,110, and the total unemployed numbered 73,650. Men to tlie number of 6540 were ineligible or unplaced, 49,190 were working under the No. 5 scheme, 12,200 were in subsidised employment on farms, 3665, mostly single men, were .in camps, 255 were gold prospecting apart from tho No. 5 Scheme, 1620 were employed under the building subsidy scheme and 180 in miscellaneous work. The following table shows the number of unemployed and the number on relief work over the six quarters to September 30. UnemOuKelief. ployed. June, 1931 .. 44,400 51,100 September, 1931 46,990 54,590 December, 1931 47,285 52,085 March, 1932 .. 47,520 54,520 June, 1932 ... 61,200 68,650 September, 1932 67,110 73,650 WEEKLY ALLOCATIONS. RESTORATION OP « CUT DESIRED. (eajssrt association tuusgbam.} AUCKLAND, February 24. The Mayors and chairmen of 17 local bodies in the Auckland metropolitan district conferred last evening on unem-

Payment. The Mayor of Auckland! (Mr G. W, Hutchison) read a letter from the Minister for Employment (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), who* said that at present the average weekly allocation was within the board's ineome, and there was a good, but by no means excash balance. If registrations increased largely in the winter months it would be impossible to continue tha board's present policy and allocation. He hoped to visit the main centres in the near future to discuss the problem. The conference resajved to ■write to the Prime Minister (the Bt. Hon G. W. Forbes) emphasising the urgency of th» need for restoring the 10 per cent. cut. ojHd informing him that local bodies were exasperated at the conditions Which were developing among relief workers as a result of the cut. ' This resolution was strongly supported by all present, and passed unanimously.