UNEMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 17, 15 October 1926, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

NEW ZEALAND'S LOW PERCENTAGE t PRIVATE ECONOMY THE CURE, SAYS MINISTER Dominion Special. Auckland, October 14. The opinion that, unless private finance in New Zealand is controlled more economically, there will be no hope of a reduction in unemployment during winter months, was expressed bv the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Minister'd Lauds), in a speech at I’apakura. Mr. McLeod referred to a deputation from the Auckland Unemployment Committee which had waited upon him and the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Labour). He said that criticism had been levelled at his colleague, who had stated that the number at present unemployed did not represent one-half of one per cent, of the workers of New Zealand. He challenged anyone to point out any part of the Empire where the unemployed represented such a low percentage of the population. Fie was fullv aware that to say that not half of one per cent, of workers was unemployed offered but little sympathy, but tlie mere fact of. their being out of work was not serious. It was serious, however, if a man was out of work and out of pocket at the same time. Too much of the outcry against the unemployment difficulty had been directly associated with politics, and not with the problem itself. A voice: Question! The Minister said that he considered that this attitude was very unfair. He had made this statement in Christchurch four months ago, and repeated it again. Statistics showed that the total of unemployed throughout the country was about 1800, and of these about one-half were single men. A great deal of unemployment resulted from seasonal occupations. If a single man earned a minimum weekly wage of £4 or £5 and spent it all, it was safe to predict that he would find himself in an awkward position when the time came for him to cease his seasonal occupation. There was far too much of this thriftlessness. Married men, on the other hand, were creditably raising families on the minimum wage. If acute financial stringency attending unemployment were to be relieved, all sections of the community, farmers and city dwellers alike," would have to realise that a great deal more economy was needed. (Applause.) FEWER REGISTRATIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH. Dominion Special. Christchurch, October 11. There are at present 202 unemployed registered in Christchurch, a decrease’ of 35 from the previous week. The Citizens’ Committee has sufficient money in hand to employ 40 men till the end of the mouth.