‘120,000 out of work’

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 6

‘120,000 out of work’

PA Wanganui New Zealand , will face a substantial increase in unemployment, the Social Credit leader (Mr .B. C. Beetham) told a public meeting in Taihape last evening. Under the survey method used in most countries, there were now 120,000 out of work in New Zealand, he said. That was nearly twice the official figure of 72.000. “Unemployment is going to grow,” said Mr Beetham. “The Government has budgeted for a 44 per cent increase to cope with unemployment.” The small drop in the latest unemployment figures should have been substantially more for this time of

year, he said. This also indicated increased unemployment next year. Mr Beetham showed his audience copies of letters which he said had been written to hundreds of individual electors in Rangitikei by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) urging them to vote National.

“It is a final despairing act and an assurance that Rangitikei stays in Social Credit’s hands.” he said.

Mr Beetham accused the Prime Minister of complaining because there had been no industrial disputes that he could use for confrontation. He warned that the Prime Minister might “manipulate” a dispute to repeat the “di-vide-and-rule confrontation”

that occurred in 1978. National had to do this because its campaign was “fizzing out,” he said. Social Credit supported the Government’s moves to turn the Railways into a corporation Mr Beetham said.

An urgent investigation would be undertaken to view the merits of returning Air New Zealand to two separate corporations.

The Wellington - Lyttelton ferry service would be reestablished on a trial basis. A system of differential freight rates would be established to assist both the South Island and regional development.