"Unemployed belong here too"

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 443, 14 July 1992, Page 4

"Unemployed belong here too"

• After giving this matter a great deal of thought. I have decided to write in reply to 'Local Yokel', whose letter could only bring more trouble to a troubled community. These people who 'Local Yokel' is talking about are after all a part of our community. Most of them were bom here, grew up here and have

families of their own here. Is it their fault they are unemployed and have to manage on a benefit that is not sufficient for their nceds. I think that they manage quite well and also look after their families well too. What would be the purpose of taking the benefit away from them? Do you want to see their

families starve. I wonder if 'Local Yokel' has ever had to make money stretch like they do, or maybe sit in a house without even wood for a fire in freezing weather, trying to make money stretch till next dole day. I'm quite sure that person

would have a whole new set of values if he, or she did. As for the windows being broken up-town that was obviously an incident that boiled over and got out of hand. It also left two young men badly beaten up, one who has

lost the sight in his eye. What-ever happened they didn't deserve that. That's what happens when people take the law into their own hands. But it seems as if that part of the incident has been pushed under the carpet. I say we should help our young unemployed people, not-try and push them further down, not talk about them and look down on them. It doesn't hurt to show kindness to anyone. So my advice to 'Local Yokel' and people who think like that is to be real and if you can't see any good in people it is better to say nothing at all. Also to give our young unemployed people help not hindrance. They belone here to.

'A Concerned Local'