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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 41 No. 1. February 27 1978

The Government's two Pronged Attack

The Government's two Pronged Attack

The government is dealing with the rising social problem of unemployment on 2 fronts. The first of these may be called the problem of unemployment, the second, the problem of the unemployed.

The first involves the pontificating about socio-economic problems, the creation of social legislation leading to some relief work and benefits and later, at convenient times, the easing of restrictions in politically crucial areas.

The second, in its simplest form appears in statements such as that made by the Rt. Hon. Gordon, Minister of Labour in the Evening Post on 8th January 1978. -there are vacancies for those who are prepared to go out and get them.(sic) -If people don't care about their presentation when approaching an employer they obviously will have difficulty getting a job.

Mr. Gordon, in the above, treats the unemployed as if they were responsible for their own predicament. Such statements are unfortunately all too easily believed and the real issues hidden from the public at large. (In Australia this has developed into a fully fledged campaign against the 'Dole Bludgers').