HOPEFUL SIGNS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 127, 3 June 1929, Page 10

HOPEFUL SIGNS

NUMBER, OF UNEMPLOYED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") CHRISTCHUKCH, This Day. "The Labour Department's records show neither material abatement of the unemployed difficulty nor any serious i increase in the number of unemployed, although we are getting-into a time of | the year when we might reasonably 6xpect some increase," said the Minister of Labour (the Hon. W. A. Veitch) on Saturday. The Minister explained that the handling of the problem had passed to a great extent from his Department (Labour) to the Public Works Department. -./ The condition of the money market and of the banking business, the Minister said, pointed to a substantial improvement in the Dominion's general economic outlook. Another factor mentioned by Mr. Veitch is that the Government's land policy has reached the stage of functioning, the Minister of Lands having recently purchased properties for subdiI vision. With these and other hopeful indications, the Minister 'feels that there ■is reason for facing even the coming winter with hope and confidence for greater prosperity. "I firmly bel^ve," he said, "that unemployment is not a permanent'feature of New Zealand's economics, and that before long we will find it reduced to a minimum." Apart from these considerations, Mr. Veiteh sees as one of the most hopeful factors in New Zealand, giving it an advantage over Australia, the fact that for a fairly long time there has been no serious industrial strife here. He cannot see that there is likely to be any. This alone, he is convinced, will give confidence to those whose business it is to establish and maintain primary and secondary industries, "and it should be acknowledged," he said, "that industrial peace could not be maintained without the self-restraint exercised and loyalty to the country's interests shown by all concerned, including wageearners and the leaders of trades unions."