Mr Walsh Replies To Critics

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30121, 3 May 1963, Page 12

Mr Walsh Replies To Critics

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 2.

People whose personal positions seemed to be threatened and, of course, from the vested interests which were opposed to the trade union movement had criticised statements in his presidential address, said the president of the Federation of Labour Mr F. P. Walsh) today.

Mr Walsh . said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) had been good enough to rearrange statements to meet the interpretation he wishdr) to put upon them. However, Mr Holyoake did no* deny the Reserve Bank statement that during 1962 there was a “downward adjustment from the boom condition of 1960-61’’ resulting in “reduced pressure in the labour market and the capital market.”

“Measures of this sort could be fairly described, in my opinion, as ’forcing down production’ to use Mr Holyoake’s words.” said Mr Walsh “Published details of overseas receipts and payments show that imports have been drastically reduced in 1962. after a record spending spree tn 1961 when expenditure on imports exceeded our total income from exports and left n< fund!) to meet other expenses amounting to £ 107 million

"Mr Holyoake’s Government was in office tor the whole of 1961, when the flood of importing occurred, which has been the reason for the subsequent overseas borrowing Borrowing was necessary to restore some of the overseas funds previously dissipated, which would otherwise have been available for development of industry. “Sir John Allum. on behalf of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, criticises my statement on immigration. His statements are unsupported by facts or figures and are easily disproved.

“The federation realises the need for an adequate labour force, but increasing immigration in the face of growing unemployment does not make sense The federation wishes to be satisfied that the needs of our own people and of immigrants can be met in the matter of employment, housing, education, health services and other things. “One matter introduced by Sir John Allum is the number of New Zealanders

permanently departing tor overseas. In 1961, there were 14.848 departures and last year 12.691 In these same years, the number of immigrants assisted and others. j:ose from 21,424 to 32,769 Assisted immigration rose from 2231 to 3584*

"Another allegation by Sir John Allum was that there was a serious labour shortage and that the number of disengaged persons had steadilyj declined in recent months.”;, said Mr Walsh

"He should know that, no matter how large the labour force, there will always be unfilled jobs as a result of labour turnover or because the required type of worker is not available. He probably does know that the number of vacancies notified to the Labour Department has fallen from 8382 in February, 1962. to 5868 in February of this year.

“Unemployed in February 1962, numbered 473 Ln February this year they numbered 742, and these are only people who registered as unemployed ”