UNEMPLOYED ROLL

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 241, 8 July 1938, Page 12

UNEMPLOYED ROLL

Minister Replies To Charge Of “Rigging”

CRITICISM OE THE PRESS

"The Leader of tbe Opposition has accused me of rigging the unemployment figures,” said the Minister ot La|Z Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, when speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives last night. "If I wanted a lesson in rigging unemployment figures, I womd go to the Opposition for it. They were past-masters at rigging the figures.” Tbe word rigging, said Mr. Armstrong, meant .something in the nature of fraud. It meant falsifying. The unemployment figures shown at present month by month were exactly the same as those'shown by the Opposition when it was iu power. There was a time when all who were in any way on tbe fund were shown in the figures, but four months before the last election tbe figures were changed so that they hid all except men on sustenance and on the No. 5 scheme. "All the others were put tn the background,” said Mr. Armstrong. "All those in camps on 17/- ar week were shown as lining in full-time employment. The figures did not include the Native race. Tbe starvation camps were counted as full-time employment. It was full-time employment all right. I can remember full-time employment in another institution for which we did not get much.” Mr. Armstrong said that he constantly gave tbe figures in speeches throughout the country, but they were never reported in the papers, because bis speeches were not .sent out by the Press Association as were the speeches of the Leader of the Opposition. The editors were constantly asking for the figures that they refused to publish. Some back-blocks papers may have published them. He could show where every man was placed, and give figures covering everv penny that every job was costing. "There are 10,009 more • people in shops than there were when we first eame into office,” said .Mr. Armstrong. "Another 25,000 more .are employed in factories. In'other avenues such as the land and transport there are a further 20.000. That is 01,000 people employed by private enterprise iu industry' The State, including tbe Public Works Department, ig employing another 18.000. That is, at March 31, there were 79,000 more people in employment in this country than there were when we eame into power, The Leader of the Opposition says that there are still 35,000 unemployed. Where could you possibly find, them.'” Mr. Armstrong said that he did not know of one man unemployed in many of the Opposition electorates. If members would tell him of one man he would get him a Job in the morning' As usual in the winter whin seasonal work was closing down, men were .com Ing on to the hands of the Employment Department. As fast as they came they were given work, and it, was no light task.

“Many of these men are being found employment on public works, which are paid for out of the Employment Fund,” he concluded. "That is what the fund is for. The actual figures show that in July, 1938, there are fewer unemployed chan in any July.jfinee tbe ’ninetieA”

ROADING SYSTEM

Increase In Motor Traffic

EXPENDITURE DEFENDED

"The action that is being taken .by the Public Works Department to improve, the roads throughout New Zealand is absolutely essential in'view of the great increase in tbe amount of motor traffic,” said the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, speaking iu the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. Semple answered charges of extravagance that had been made by members, and declared that the safety campaign that was being carried out woul’d be useless tinless It were founded on a good reading system.

"Speaking earlier in this debate the member for Clulha, Mr. J. A. Roy, said that the Public Works Department bad spent £200,000 on one mile of road in his constituency,” Mr. Semple said"He later confirmed that statement three times, but afterward came to me to make a personal explanation. That was no good to me, however, as his original statement had gone out to the people of this country, and I think it must he refuted in the same way. The actual amount that has beeeu spent on that piece of road to date is £5400, so that he is just £195,000 out. Two bridges to cost £3OOO have yet to be built, find the final cost, altogether will be £9150.” Tbe Rev. C. L. Carr (Government, Timaru) : How long is the road? “It is just over a mile, and is on a hillside in a very rough piece of country,” Mr. Semple replied. "The member for Clutha also said the road was useless, but it is a maip highway and we are trying to bring the main highways of this country up to standard.” The Minister said that Mr. 11. G. Dickie (Opposition. Patea) bad alleged that there bad been extravagant expenditure on a road in bis district. Mr. Dickie: Wil) you give me a return of tbe money spent there? Mr. Semple: I will give a full :icI'Oiiut of every copper I have spent since I have been Minister ot Public Works.

Mr. Dickie: You have never seen that job.

Mr. Semple: I saw it just a month

The Minister said that New Zealand ■ was now tlie second highest motorised country in the world, with an increase of 311.000 motor-cars in tlie past year, and an attempt was living made to reduce tlie number of fatal accidents that occurred on the roads. It was no use tightening up the law and punishing people more heavily if the roads wore faulty, and il was a tribute to what had already heeti done that in spite of a .".o per cent, increase in motor trallic in ibis eonniry there bad been no increase in the number of fatal accidents on Ibe roads. Ho would apologise to no oim for trying to improve the loading system of New Zealand. The road work in the Clutba electorale. mentioned by the Minister, was referred to by Mr. K. -I. Ilolyoake (Disposition. Motiieka) later in the debale. Mr. Ilolyoake -aid he bad bad Hie road, pointed out to him by a resident of the district anil of al! the works lie bad seen in New Zealand il represented the most U.igrant waste of public money. 'l’be new road wo'Hd be sleeper in grade than the old one and in winter would be nothing more than a snmv trap. Whatever llm cost, the immei could well have !•••,, diverted with beiielit to I he-provision of access roads Cor settlers. . I