Industrial aims

Press, 3 February 1986, Page 12

Industrial aims

Sir,—Patrick Neary accuses me of showing fashionable contempt for Government planning and guidance. Not so, unless there are ulterior motives for the planning. During the last 20 years the Government has robbed small savers through inflation while favouring the middle class, which through capital gains made enormous killings. In all societies a battle occurs for resources or one can call it a battle for niches. The privileged middle class needs broad niches. As this class only is represented in the Government it has acquired more and more resources through higher salaries, inflation-proofed pensions, etc. The enormous expansion of the bureaucracy under this Government is part of this strategy. Under a truly democratic system the lower class could have some say in government. Now it is in the hands of either the Labour or National Parties, both middle class.— Yours, etc., P. A. VAN DUGTEREN. January 29, 1986.

Sir, —Philip Ellis raises important issues concerning remedies for improving New Zealand’s economy. He mentions the relevance of latest technology and the urgent need for full cooperation of the workforce. A determinant of this very necessary process is the attitude of the workforce from directors to workers. Likewise, our adult attitudes are very much influenced by the education we receive. If we encourage flexibility in thinking, creativity and the use of imagination in children we shall have a workforce that can adapt to change far more readily; that can adjust to the changing demands of a technological society where working practices (sometimes even jobs) will change rapidly at times. If we concentrate mainly on intellectual development to the exclusion of the effective facet of child and man we shall end up with a workforce which is inflexible in attitude. Hard work is necessary. Add creativity to intelligence and you have a winning combination. — Yours, etc., DAVID MOLLET, Bursar, Rudolf Steiner School. January 29, 1986.