UNEMPLOYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1938, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT

FOUR-WEEKLY PERIOD RETURN WELLINGTON. June 22. The unemployment return as at June 4, 1938, included those on the register who are tor health or other reasons unfit for employment, discloses a reduction of 12,605, as against the corresponding figure tor June 5, 1937. Compared with the position Tor last month ) there is a small increase of 407, brought about by falling-off of seasonal employment. Details for the four-weekly, period to June 4, 1938, are as follows: Registered but not on relief ... 1301 On sustenance awaiting placement 4605! On. Scheme No. 5 relief 2812 Total 8721 On sustenance, totally unfit for employment, for health or other reasons but being afforded relief' from the Employment Promotion Fund 8000

For the four-weekly period under review, the expenditure from the fund under the heading of promotion of ■employment, as distinct from relief expenditure, is estimated at £239,184. Commenting upon the above figures, the Minister of Employment (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) stated to-day that the increase of 407 shown on the previous month’s figures could be compared with the total of 1621 shown in the corresponding period last year. “We are getting hold of the men as they come off seasonal employment and sending them away to work before they qualify for sustenance,” he added. “Some of them go on local body work, some on public works of various kinds, and the East Coast floods have taken quite a number of men. There is a fair amount of river protection work also going on in various parts of the country. We are not going to let the figures get out of hand.”