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Editorial

"Now then boys and girls, I want you to write me a little story about what you did in the holidays". If this happened at University (and there are rumours that the Socialogy Department is considering bringing it in) some 500 University students would reply that they spent at least part of the holidays on the unemployment benefit (means tested of course) because they had been unable to find work. Ten times that number would say that they had been employed under the special Government Student Community Service Programme (SCSP) designed to create jobs for students. Between them, these two groups of students represent 15% of all full-time tertiary students in the country.

These figures show beyond any shadow of doubt that the private sector is unable to provide sufficient jobs for students during the summer vacation. The days when all students could arrange jobs in factories, offices, government departments and the like have long gone. The present depression is so severe that employers are not even finding it necessary to employ temporary staff to boost productions during the Christmas rush (several years ago for example the car plants used to employ hundreds of university students simply to meet this peak demand.

The current depression is causing hardship, and falling living standards to many groups in the country. Students are very much mistaken if they think that will not come in for their share of "belt tightening".

For most students their holiday earnings have been essential to sustain through university. As the bursary continues to decline in value, holiday jobs will became more and mor more important. At the end of 1978 the bursary was worth only $16.40 in real terms, the lowest it has been since its introduction and this notwithstanding the $2 increase in 1978.

But as the bursary declines in value (and remember only 50% of full-time students receive the STB) so too do the number of jobs, and the remuneration for these jobs is falling.

The consequences of the decline in students finances is revealed in many places. Only three or four years ago the experts were predicting that Victoria would have over 10,000 students by 1980s. Now the University is planning for a roll of little over 6,000. Why the drop? It is simply that fewer and fewer people can afford to go to university. Once more university education is becoming the province of the rich. How many of you will be able to return to university in 1980 if you don't get a job in the next Christmas holidays?

There is a lot of talk around about "belt tightening" in these troubled economic times. As students are doubtless going to be asked to pull in a notch or three its worth looking to see exactly who else is breathing in. One of New Zealand's primary economic problems is the balance of trade deficit. To restore this to a proper balance either imports must decrease or exports must increase. Because of the structure of the New Zealand economy, much of our overseas spending is on items that are essential, the real answer is to increase exports.

This means allowing the capitalists to prosuce their goods for the minimum cost with minimum interferance and sindustrial disruption. W While this approach may solve the overseas debt, it will also line the pockets of the capitalists. We are asked to tighten our belts, but the bosses are encouraged to grow fat.

The other economic ill is the internal deficit (ie Government over spending). In the years up to the next election we can expect Muldoon to slash increase in the Bursary, and more seriously these special student employment schemes will come under attack.

Nor should you believe that increasing the profits of the capitalists will increase the number of jobs and reduce uneployment. One of the tools that will be used, and indeed is being used at present, to keep the work force in a state of subjugation is the threat of unemployment;

Students seem to be in a "on the one hand you lose, but on the other hand you lose" [unclear: situati] The jobs that students depend on to survive financially are disappearing and government will be curtailing its own financial assistance to students.

What we must do is to fight Government to keep what little is left of the illusion of free tertiary education for all. The Bursary must be restored to a reasonable level, and if the jobs necessary for students to survive are not available in the private sector. Government must provide them. Even if you have no concern for the plight of your fellow students, or those who would otherwise be your fellow students, you might look out for yourself. Just ask yourself what would happen to you if you couldn't get a job next Christmas.

Peter Beach