UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20892, 5 December 1929, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES.

REASON FOR NON-PUBLICATION STATEMENT BY MR VEITCH. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON. December 4. The day to day variation in the unemployment registrations and the consequent difficulty of issuing an accurate summary were advanced by the Minister of Labour (Mr W. A. Veitch) to-day as the reason why the Government stopped the publication of the figures. “We stopped publication of the figures,” said Mr Veitch, “ not because we wished to bide something—there was nothing to hide—but because things were moving so rapidly during the progress of the work that we felt the publication of the figures would be misleading. However, the whole position as it existed at the time for the fulfilment of Sir Joseph Ward’s promise was made known to the public. It was pointed out then that we had provided for some 6000 men, and that the whole of that number was not available. Clearly, then, the unemployment difficulty had been met, and the Prime Minister’s promise completely fulfilled. We undertook to do a certain job within a certain time. We were more concerned about that than about reporting to the public. I am quite sure the people generally are satisfied that the fulfilment of the promise was no mean achievement, indeed, _ a greater achievement towards the relief of unemployment than has so far been recorded in any other country. We think our, opponents might give us' credit for having achieved the main purpose rather than worry over a petty detail as to whether the figures should have been published or not, especially in view of the fact that the numbers were changing from day to day and at no stage could be regarded as up to date.” The Minister added that the decision to prohibit the publication of the figures was made by the Cabinet Committee appointed to carry out the promise of the Prime Minister. There was no reason why the decision should not be reconsidered next time the_ committee met. The committee consists of the Minister of Lands (Mr G. W. Forbes), the Minister of Labour (Mr W. A. Veitch), the Minister of Public Works (Mr E. A. Ransom), and the Minister of Railways (Mr W. B. Taverner). ,