WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1975
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EMPLOYMENT
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY THAT ALTHOUGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND HARDSHIP PERSIST, THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE SENSE OF RELIEF THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT THE WORST IS NOW BEHIND US.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDER-EMPLOYMENT WHICH FOLLOWED THE WORLDWIDE RECESSION HAD BROUGHT REAL HARDSHIP TO A NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND THIS HAD BEEN OF GREAT CONCERN TO THE GOVERNMENT.
MEASURES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE BUDGETARY EXPENDITURE OVER THE YEARS HAD HELPED TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT AND DUSINESS ACTIVITY IN SOME FIELDS, HE SAID, AND HE WAS THANKFUL THAT THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS THERE TO ALLEVIATE DISTRESS OF FAMILIES.
HOWEVER, A MORE FAVOURABLE TIDE COULD BE FELT, HE SAID.
+THE TREND OF OUR TRADE FIGURES IS IMPROVING AND THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN JULY WAS ONLY TWO PER CENT LESS THAN THOSE FOR JULY LAST YEAR.
+EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURE INCREASED BY FOUR PER CENT BETWEEN MARCH AND JUNE AND THE INDICATIONS ARE THE INCREASE HAS CONTINUED, AND REPORTS FROM INDUSTRY CONTINUE TO SUGGEST THAT A NUMBER OF FIRMS HAVE RESUMED A FULL WORKING WEEK, HAVE INCREASED SHIFT WORKING AND HAVE TAKEN BACK PREVIOUSLY RETRENCHED WORKERS.
+IT IS ALSO ENCOURAGING THAT THE NUMBER OF PLANS FOR NEW BUILDINGS HAS STEADILY INCREASED AND THAT THE PROPERTY MARKET IS SHOWING SIGNS OF MORE ACTIVITY,+ THE GOVERNOR SAID.
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