PUBLIC WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1940, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS

PRESENT EMPLOYMENT FIGURES. PRIME MINISTER'S SURVEY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The latest return for men employed on public works showed that in June the total was 17,089, the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) stated in the House of Representatives last evening. Actually, on the department's payroll there were 12,711 men in June this year, against 16,414 a year earlier, a reduction of 3703. The present total was a smaller number than there had been on the department's payroll for a number of years. Mr Coates: “How does that tally with 17.089?” Mr Fraser said that the difference was made up of men employed on contracts, who did not appear on the department's payroll, and men employed by local bodies on subsidies granted from the Public Works Fund. “These men, I am informed, are working mainly on county roads,” Mr Fraser added. “Are we going to cut them off?'’ Mi- Coates; “If war work is more essential. certainly cut them off.” Mr Fraser: “Yes, I agree, but if the only result is to throw men out of work without benefitting the war, then what have we achieved?" The Prime Minister said that the Leader of the Opposition had quoted astronomical figures in connection with unemployment benefits under the Social Security scheme. Actually 3966 people were receiving unemployment benefits, 8500 were working under scheme 13, 3936 were working under scheme 4b. and there were another 450 in miscellaneous classes. This made a total of 16.752. of whom nearly 12.000 were engaged usefully. In justifying the Government's public works policy, Mr Fraser referred particularly to roads. He emphasised the importance of good roads in increasing military mobility and power of concentration. “It is a foolish policy to turn men off work that will ultimately be beneficial and turn them into! the ranks of the unemployed,” Mr Fraser added. “The problem is to get them transferred and that is receiving daily attention."