CONSIDERABLY BETTER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18484, 24 August 1934, Page 8

CONSIDERABLY BETTER

UNEMPLOYMENT IN N.Z. DECREASE OF 9000 CONDITIONS IMPROVING (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. “Generally, tho unemployment position is considerably better thari it was at this time last year, ’’ stated the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Finance, in the House of Representatives last evening. “The latest figures of those workers who, in one way or another, are a charge on - the unemployment fund aro 60,000, which represents a decrease of 9000 over the figures at tho corresponding date last year.

“In previous years the number of unemployed commenced to rise in March with the cessation of seasonal employment. . No such movement has taken place this yenr, and, as a matter of fact, the total iiguresare now lower than at any period' since tho end of March, 1932. This is ’ satisfactory, and indicates a general improvement in industrial and economic conditions. The commencement of seasonal occupations in the summer should reflect a further reduction in the figures. REPRODUCTIVE WORKS. “A satisfactory feature of the board’s work for the year was the progress made in finding useful and productive full-time employment Jfor those in need of relief. , As a result ol' the introduction of the gold-pros-pectinj and building schemes, the placement of workers in camps with tho Public Works and Forestry Do pnrtments, and various other measures adopted by the board, the number of unemployed on part-time work has been considerably reduced. Three years ago over 90 por CQnt. of the unemployed were in receipt of parttime relief under scheme No. 5, whereas to-day under 60 per cent, aro so employed, and every effort is being made to reduce tho number still further.

“Numbers of local employing authorities are n.ow making special efforts to put in hand new works, such as street improvement, drainage and water supply, under qornt&l working conditions. Where local bodies are