Labour attacks jobless record

Press, 19 November 1981, Page 25

Labour attacks jobless record

Timaru reporter Unemployment under the National Government had grown 12-fold since Labour left office, which was the worst record in the Western world, . said the Labour Party's Deputy Leader (Mr Lange) in Timaru. More than 70.000 people were registered unemployed or on relief work and jobs were disappearing, with 1200 going last year, Mr Lange told an election audience of 200 at Caroline Bay. The Government's response had been to increase the amount available for the unemployment benefit. This was $l3O million this year “for those piled on the idle scrapheap.” • Mr Lange said that he knew young poeple in Mangere who retired when thev were 15. Timaru had experienced the greatest increase in unemployment of any employment district in the last six years, said Mr Lange. The total unemployed in Timaru had increased more than 3000 per cent since November. 1975. when Labour had left office and when there had been only 42 registered unemployed in Timaru. Under', National, an average 140 jobs a year had been lost over the last five years.

That was an appalling statement on the prospects for Timaru. said Mr Lange. The closing of local factories. failure to promote the Senior Technical Division to full community college status, and the withdrawal of the Shipping Corporation service from the Port of Timaru were examples of the Government’s neglect of the city, he said. The Government had more than doubled its tax lake per head in the last five years, he said. A total of $261 was taken in tax every second.