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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 26. October 3 1977

Hard Times in Hokianga

Hard Times in Hokianga

Dear David,

and have often been greatly shocked at the filthness of my fellow men.

I was interested to see that Phillipa Smith has gone into print. I await "The Rise and Rise of a Young Nat" with eager anitcipation.

I am actually writing to comment in her statement that "the average yearly income figure quotes for the Hokianga seems reasonable". As a one-time resident of that part of the countryside I must first make it quite plain that the residents of the Hokianga are not, in general, full of strife and misery because of their low annual income. It happens that many of them have something in the manner of sensitivity to the social and physical environment, and thus would rather live in the Hokianga than in Auckland or Wellington.

Nonetheless, her assertion that "this is an area in which a Large number of pensioners live", suggests some confusion of her middle-class retirement havens. Hokianga is our subject, Phillipa dear, not Havelock North. There is a disproportionate percentage of young children as well as of old people (it is the school-leavers who are missing, gone south for jobs).

While Phillipa and her comrades campaign successfully for assistance to parents who want to send their children to WASPish private schools, the parents of the Hokianga cannot always afford good lunches and school uniforms. (True, both major parties are some what screwy-minded on the issue. The Far North continues to feature general political alienation).

I am not trying to make a case for government aid to the Hokianga. After all, uniforms are regimental, non-essential. I do not seek to draw inferences begrudging others their handouts (hardly anyone in the Hokianga pays taxes). My objection is to a Government that makes a policy of, and exercises its power in, perpetuating the social and class divisions rife in New Zealand.

Yours faithfully,

Hori.

PS. I suggest Phillipa Smith consult with Keith Allen, MP, before putting i her pro forma objection to my failure to use my "real" name.