Unemployment will rise—M.P.

Press, 15 August 1984, Page 2

Unemployment will rise—M.P.

PA Wellington Unemployment would continue to rise because of the devaluation and “unbridled” interest rates, said Social Credit’s deputy leader, Mr Garry Knapp, V Mr said figures showing unemployment in July “cemented” the trend of rising unemployment. Labour Department figures show there were 106,928 people unemployed or on special work schemes at the end bf July, up 229 on the June figures. The 65,207 people registered as unemployed represented 4.9 per cent of the estimated workforce, an increase of 152 over the June figure. “The July set of figures show clearly why the National Party called an

early election,” Mr Knapp said in a statement. “They show unequivocally that National had failed to achieve a real reduction in unemployment. Total unemployment has increased by 4351 in just two months.” The Opposition spokesman on employment, Mr J. B. Bolger, said the figures confirmed the National Party’s claim that his Government’s policies to reduce unemployment were working. “What is of real concern is that the strong growth over recent months in industry and employment, made possible by the former National Government’s policies of low inflation and low interest rates, will all be lost under the Labour Government’s policies of high interest rates and high inflation,” he said.