The Dominion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1937. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RETURNS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 41, 12 November 1937, Page 10

The Dominion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1937. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RETURNS

Unemployment statistics for the month oi October, publishedjes terday are presented in a form differing from previous monthly returns This change suggests that it is intended to carry on the method of presenting the figures adopted by the ° f in his explanation last month of the position disclosed by the Sep tember figures. According to Mr. Armstrong the new method gives a Xer indication of the number of men actually unemployed or on intermittent employment under Scheme 5, and also gives a mo accurate classification of the men on sustenance. ■ On this basis of reckoning the total figure of unemployment on September 25 was 16,554, and on October 23, 14,682. On the Previous basis the July figure was 38,679, August 37,316, and September 36,450, but as in the new form the numbers classified previously as, being full-time subsidised employment” is not now given it is impossible to make an accurate comparison. Referring in his statement , month to the subsidised full-time employed class, the Minister remarked that many of these men were “completely unaware of then inclusion in the returns of unemployment.” But it has to be remei - bered that they are being paid from the fund. If they were no they would all be in the ranks of the unemployed. As it -is they unemployed, being kept at work at the public expense Their' elimination from the official return is simply a device to cover up the real position. The number of men of this class m the Ju y statement was 8236, very little short of the total for August, 1936, which was 8958. In September last it had increased to 11,397. The latest information on this point is withheld. Why.' With regard to the sustenance figures the new classificatio makes the broad distinction between “men on sustenance await, ”§ placement,” and “on sustenance, totally unfit for employment for health or other reasons.” In the first class are 8377, and in the latter 8499, a total of 16,876. The July figure under the classification was 22,210, August 19,973, and September 18,110 On the face of it these figures show a satisfactory downward tendency, but the new classification apparently excludes other classes of individuals whose earnings are low enough to entitle them to assista from the fund. It is in this department of relief that frauds have I>Ceil imagine that the public will be satisfied with this juggling with the unemployment statistics. They merely tend to cover up the actual position and make it impossible to institute fair com parisons with lhe past. In one respect the Minister unwittingly no doubt has rendered a useful service. In seeking to emphasise improvement in the unemployment situation he has dnected attentio to tfie fact that with fewer to provide for the Government still continues to collect more than ever in unemployment taxation.