MR HOLLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1930, Page 5

MR HOLLAND

ON UNEMPLOYMENT

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

HAMILTON, May 13

In the course of an address at Frankton last evening, Mr li. E. Holland, ALP., Leader of the Labour Party made reference to the Government’s decision not to reveal the ligures relating to unemployment. He said the explanation od'ered by the Minister of Labour would not bear examination. To say that because of the overlapping of registrations, the aggicgate numbers would appear to be more than the actual amount was to confess the inadequacy of statistical methods employed with efficient system of local registration and central recording. The possibility of overlapping will be reduced to such a minimum that the accuracy of figures will be unchangeable on serious grounds. It sounded almost Gilbertian to hear the Minister further declaring that the publication of the figures, showing the number of unemployed, might have a depressing effect and shake the confidence of the people in the economic stability of the country. But, said Ml’ Holland, if Mr Veitch is really serious his utterance would go to make people believe that the problem of unemployment in this country was of far greater magnitude than the public had so far been permitted to know., Possibly what the Minister feared was that the publication of the full facts might shake the confidence in the Government’s capability and may be its willingness to nonor its hustings’ pledges relating- to unemployment. In any case, whatever the numbers were, the public were entitled to have them in public print at least monthly.

Answering questions as to whether the Labour Party would vote with the Reform Party on a confidence motion to nut out the United Government, Mr H. E. Holland, at Frankton last evening, said his party dealt with the situations as they arose, and had not discussed its attitude Should such a contingency arise during the coming session the question was, lie said, Would Reform support Labour in its no-con-fidence motion? It would be foolish, he added, to put Mr Coates back on the Treasury Benches again with his record, of class legislation and general failure. Tlie result last election was a definite ■ pronouncement from the people that Mr Coates and. the Reform Party were finished with. Mr Coates’ defeat .was so overwhelming as to leave no doubt of public opinion regarding him. ‘ Sir Joseph Ward had failed to keep his election pledges, and he must go. When he did, it would not be a question of Reform going back, hut of Labour.