THE ELECTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1938, Page 11

THE ELECTIONS

THE UNEMPLOYED

MINISTER'S CLAIM

BIG DROP IN FIGURES

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day.

"The philosophy and policy of Labour," as the chairman, Mr. H. S. Sinclair, described it, was the subject of an address given by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) at Stratford last night in opening his Taranaki tour. Although the Town Hall was not filled there was a fairly large and representative attendance. Despite the title of the address, however, the first part was devoted to a criticism of the recently-announced policy of the National Party, a policy which he declared was "pinched from Labour." "I am the first Minister of Labour in a position to offer a -job to every able-bodied man in New Zealand." Mr. Armstrong said. He ventured to say that New Zealand had never had a smaller percentage of the population, unemployed. It was better than any other coun]try could do. The unemployment figures given by the last Government were criticised by the speaker, who contended that many who were not in full-time employment were not taken into consideration. New Zealand's unemployed were largely being absorbed by private enterprise and industry. One instance of the recovery made Iwas the fact that there were 1125 more factories working today than two years ago. This was a world record. "You can see prosperity all i around you," said Mr. Armstrong. Other facts given were that 61,200 [more people were employed by private enterprise today than in 1935 and 18,000 more people were employed by the i State. More State houses could be built today but there was not sufficient skilled labour. In 1928 there were 10,200 registered apprentices, in 1935 only 3300. Today there were 8735 and before long there would be a record number. A great deal of leeway had to be made up, however, and at the moment New Zealand had more unskilled labourers than other countries. The Government was concerned that children should be scientifically qualified for their future work, and vocational guidance was now established in the education system. , _~, Mr. Armstrong is to speak at Eltham and New Plymouth in the course of his Taranaki tour.