Jobless policy urgent — M.P.

Press, 18 April 1979, Page 16

Jobless policy urgent — M.P.

PA Wellington The creation of a sound employment policy is one of the most urgent tasks facing the Government, according to the Labour Party’s (spokesman on family affairs, Mrs Mary Batchelor. “The umemployment figures released on Friday will be the lowest we are likely to have under present economic policies,” .she said. “The Government has tried to write off the increasing number of jobless as being a seasonal problem, but the fact that the number has not fallen after all students have returned to school and university indicates that the real numbers I are growing fast. I “With the removal of

i .price controls and the lifting , of food subsidies, many fam- . ilies supported by persons ■ on the unemployment bene- ; fit may be pushed into a , crisis,” Mrs Batchelor said. ’ “It will be a lasting shame ’ to New Zealand if, in the • International Year of the Child, the living standards • of many children fall to pol verty level as a result of Government policies. “New Zealand has traditionally accepted the right ‘ of all able-bodied people “to ■ support themselves and their ' families by having a job,” , she said. “However, this • value is apparently not supported by the Government 1 which is happy to stand by • and watch the living stani dards and self-respect of many thousands of people ’ destroyed.”