Business house apathy-vandals rule?

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 442, 30 June 1992, Page 4

Business house apathy-vandals rule?

• I have noticed in more recent times the increase of theft and damage in our business district. A sign of the times and our future - perhaps. But with this increase so to increases the bellyaching of our shopkeepers. Yet they refuse to get off their backsides and help the community to catch these people. Recently in Ohakune the neighbourhood watch held some meetings with excellent starting results. When the same was tried in Raetihi 12 (approx) people turned up, 3 policemen, 2 young people and some of our more elderly folk - when a second meeting was held, even less people came.

Yet the thieving increases as does the bellyaching. I am curious as to how we can promote our community and put our area on the map. When we won't even get off our apathy and clean the town up - except for the two people I have seen painting some shop fronts - but even this was someone else's idea - not from our business houses. Otu- vandals flex their muscles not their jaws, they even robbed a store twice in the same night not so long ago. Leaving behind a used sleeping bag in their escape. I wonder what it will take to get our (whole) community fired up in-

stead of worrying about what's on the TV screen at 6pm.

Local

Yokel

Employing the unemployed • I have been following with interest the recent process chosen by Winstones Pulp Intemational Ltd to fill the vacancies for eight operators at the Karioi mill. My interest has been personal as I was one of the "large numbers" of unsuccessful applicants. I have also had a general interest as I live in a community which is hard-hit by unemployment and the overall

economic down-turn. I am concerned for the general well being of this community. It appears applications for the positions were received by Winstone's who then passed them on to the New Zealand Employment Services to short-list. The outcome has been that at least three of the successful applicants were already in permanent employment in the area. The household of one of these ha? been receiving two reasonable incomes. Several unsuccessful applicants were unemployed and I personally

know one who has two children under the age of 10. Winstones and the NZES had an opportunity to support our community, by appointing eight .unemployed people. Instead, at least three households (I do not know who the other five appointees are) who already have the privilege of employment were supported by the Win-stone-NZES Duo. While they have the right to choose who they want for the job, in hard times, social responsibility is desirable to keep the good spirit of the community. Large employers like Winstones can only appear insensitive and unjust

when this sort of thing happens. I understood the NZES was there to help the unemployed. Why is this Government body not doing the job it's supDosed to do?

Concerned citizen