Nassella Grubbing

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 14

Nassella Grubbing

Sir, —“One of Them” is in no danger of getting coms on his hands from hard work. A more distinct possibility is that he will get corns on his posterior while he is sitting “free for a few more days to apply for that position which may come up.” Surely nassella grubbing at $5O fortnightly is both more satisfying and remunerative than “the dole” at $24.50 a fortnight. Whether the correspondent considers himself to be an outdoor type or not he should be grateful that he was given the chance of a job. Given time, and a change of attitude, I am sure he would appreciate the opportunity to earn a wage which would enable him to live reasonably, if not riotously, well. Having been out of work for four months and travelled the length and breadth of the country before finding work here, I have no sympathy for any man who is offered work and declines.—Yours, etc., R.J.Q. September 3, 1968.

Sir, —“One of Them” Is quite right, as the Labour Department is certainly giving unemployed men the choice between nassella tussock grubbing and starvation. Surely it is wrong that any man is forced’ to endanger his health by doing work that he

feels is too hard for him. The Social Security Department refuses to let these men have boots under special assistance, and so they have to seek boots from charity or lose their benefit for a period up to six weeks. 1 suggest that the Superintendent of Labour and the officers of his employment section spend a day grubbing this tussock to see for themselves what this hard, backbreaking work is really like. —Yours, etc.. DISILLUSIONED NATIONALIST. September 3, 1968.