'Embarrassment' charge as figures changed

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 4

'Embarrassment' charge as figures changed

PA Wellington The total number of unemployed people on special work schemes will in future not be made public until several days after figures giving details of persons registered as seeking work. The Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) made this clear yesterday when he announced that in the fortnight to March 31 the number of registered unemployed fell by 36 to 19,844.

In the past both sets of figures have been issued at the same time.

Mr Gordon said that the introduction of new job-crea-tion programmes had meant in increase in the range of data to be compiled. “For this reason information on the job-creation programmes will in future be released a few days after that on the employment sit* uation,” he said.

Information on vacancies, placements and numbers employed on special work schemes as at March 31 would be available early next week.

Of the 19,844 registered as unemployed on March 31, 2603 were school-leavers.

The Opposition spokesman on industrial relations (Mr A. J. Faulkner) reacted angrily to the news. “The attempt by Mr Gordon to hide the true stale of unemployment will fool noone,” he said in a statement. “The principle of open government is in a sorry state when the Minister has to divide the total number of people officially without proper work in half and spread the release of the figures to minimise the Government’s own embarrassment over its failure to manage the economy.” Eleven employment districts recorded an increase in- the numbers registered as seeking work while 11 others showed a decrease. Auckland’s unemployed rose by 382 while Wellington showed an increase of 155 and Manukau 109. The largest decreases were recorded in Hamilton (down 228), Christchurch (216), and Palmerston North (169).

Mr Gordon said that spe* cial training programmes using facilities at technical institutes, community colleges and senior technical divisions of some secondaiy schools were now in use in five employment districts. During March the employ* ment and vocational guidance service of the Department of Labour had found jobs for 4275 people, he said.

Vacancies notified to the department and remaining unfilled at March 31 number 1343.

Persons registered as unemployed in the circulation area of “The Press” as at March 31, with March 17 statistics in parentheses: Blenheim, 223 (236); Nelson, 251 (267): Greymouth, 119 (115); Christchurch, 3030 (3246); Timaru, 179 (185),