NUMBERS EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22521, 1 October 1938, Page 18

NUMBERS EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY

MINISTER'S FIGURES SHOW

INCREASE

WELLINGTON, September 30. Speaking in support of the labour candidate for Wairarapa (Mr B. Roberts) at Upper Hutt. the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T Armstrong) replied to Opposition criticism that all Labour was doing was to “shanghai people on to public works when they should be absorbed into industry. He said that actually people were being absorbed into industry, more rapidly th In 1936 in New Zealand: in 1937, 17,126, in 1938, 17,559. There were 1125 more factories working in New Zealand than there were two years ago. The Minister added, however, that he was more concerned with the number of people employed in factories. In one year there had been an increase of 12,510 people emptoyed m factories, and in two years the increase had been 25,276. In shops 16,000 more were employed, and in offices, transport and hotels 20,000 more, making a total increase of 61,276. Not only to a f* but the employees were working full time in factories now. compared with part time before Labour came into °*State employees, including men on public works, had' increased by only 18,000 in that time. The Minister was given an attentive hearing and a motion of in him and in Mr Roberts was carried without dissent.

MINERS’ PRESIDENT IN CHAIR

MEETING OF NATIONAL PARTY CANDIDATE

WESTPORT, September 30. Exception was taken by a member of the audience at the meatmg of Mr T O Maddison, National candidate tor Buller. at Stockton, at the chair bein=, taken by Mr J. Lavery, . president of the Stockton Miners’ Union. He saia that on a previous occasion when a member of the Miners Union took the chair at a meeting of a United or Coalition candidate, it was given significance all over the Dominion. Mr Lavery said that he took the chair only as an act of courtesy and he had no intention of supporting Mr Maddison or the National Party at the election. The National candidate was given a good hearing, although there were some good-humoured interjections, and he was given a vote of thanks. Granity Mr Maddison addressed an audience of 60, and spoke for two hours on the National Party’s policy. Mr D. Kerr (member of the tsuiier County Cour til) was in the chair. A few persons repeatedly interrupted the speaker. Mr Maddison was given a vote of thanks.

BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT

INDEPENDENT WITHDRAWS

WHANGAREI. September 30. Mr William Grounds, who intended to contest the Bay of Islands seat as an Independent, announced last night that as he was convinced that a three-cor-nered fight would possibly give the seat to the National Party, he had decided to withdraw. He was convinced that the outlooK and policy of the Government were preferable to that of tne National Party as a means of dealing with present needs and future developments.

(Other election news is printed on page 15.)