Chch unemployment ‘unforgiveable waste’

Press, 25 August 1983, Page 8

Chch unemployment ‘unforgiveable waste’

Parliamentary reporter

Unemployment in Christchurch was the highest of any city or big town in the South Island, said Christchurch Labour members of Parliament yesterday in a joint statement.

The seven members and the member for Southern Maori said that at the end of July those on job-creation schemes and registered as

unemployed were 9 per cent of the work-force.

“This represents an unforgiveable waste of human resources in Christchurch,” they said. The Government’s neglect of Christchurch showed in job-creation figures. The number on job-creation schemes had fallen one quarter in the last 12 months. Throughout New Zealand numbers had risen

16 per cent. Almost 1150 fewer people were employed in Christchurch on job-creation schemes than 12 months ago. The national 16 per cent increase had not kept pace with the 64 per cent increase in registered unemployed, but it was “infinitely better than the appalling 25 per cent drop in Christchurch,” they said. “Clearly, Christchurch is missing out more than any other mainland city or town.

“That is not because of continuing determined efforts of local bodies and private enterprise. The Government is the root cause of this blatant neglect.” At the end of July, 10,067 Christchurch people were registered as unemployed, and 3509 were on jobcreation schemes.

“There is no sign that gives any hope of any significant future improvement.” In the last year registered unemployment in Christchurch had risen 56 per cent. Under the National Government since 1975, registered unemployment had risen 2367 per cent.