UNEMPLOYMENT.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LI, Issue 36, 9 December 1929, Page 1

UNEMPLOYMENT.

PREMIER S PROMISE KEPT. STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF LABOR. WELLINGTON, Saturday. “We undertook to do a certain job within a certain time. We were more concerned about that than about reporting to the public,” said the Minister of Labor, the Hon. W. A. Veiteli, in explaining why the Government stopped the publication of line m ploy men t %u res. “We stopped publication of the figures,” said Mr Veitch, “not because we wished to hide something—there was nothing to hide —but because tilings were moving so rapidly during the progress of the work that

we felt publication of the figures would be misleading. “However, the whole question as il 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 (10(1(1 men, and that the whole of that number was not available. Clearly, then, the unemployment difficulty had been met anil the Prime Minister’s promise completely fulfilled. “I am quite sure the people generally are satisfied that the fulfilment of the promise was no mean achieve ment—a greater achievement toward Ihe relief of unemployment than has so far been recorded in any other country. We think our opponents might give us credit for having achieved tile 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 he regarded as up to date.” The Minister added that there was no reason why the decision should not he reconsidered next time the Cabinet Committee met.