UNEMPLOYMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23073, 25 June 1938, Page 19

UNEMPLOYMENT

Sir, —It is hoped that your reading public realise the significance of the Hon. Mr. Armstrong s latest publication of unemployment figures.. He places the whole number of persons employed in shops, factories and private enterprise since the commencement of the Labour regime at 61,000 and in State enterprise, including public works, at 18,000. Why Mr. Armstrong distinguishes between shops and factories and private enterprise is not clear, because the two former are included in the latter. These figures throw into sharp relief the claim of the New Zealand National Party that the greatest relief of the problem of unemployment is to bo found in the encouragement of pri ate enterprise. It is on this important issue that the Nationalists differ from the Labour Party, who claim that the relief of all economic ills is to be found in the regimentation and socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange. Quietly, without bombast, radio or newspaper publicity, private enterprise during the last few years has been pulling this country out of its economic morass and lias found employment for 61,000 of our citizens. Are not our thanks due to this multitude of unknown private benefactors —some of them are probably members of the Chamber of Commerce and Employers' Federation —and not to the present Cabinet only, which is not slow to sing its own praises at finding work for 18.000 men. Let us not forget also that it was possible for the Government to employ the 18.000 men only on account of the fluids supplied to it by the taxation of private individuals and private enterprise. If private enterprise, with all the restrictions and obstacles placed in its way by our present Government, together with the fear of uncertainty of the future which has been engendered by it, can absorb 61.000 of our citizens in useful employment, what great achievement could he attained by private enterprise under a Government which encouraged individual thrift, initiative and enterprise! Bryan Kingston.