The Non-workers

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 18

The Non-workers

Sir, —It is difficult to understand the attitude taken by “Social Worker” to the Government’s decision to train the hard-core unemployed. As unemployed, they would be entitled to unemployment benefits and, therefore, are a drain on the nation’s resources. Some of these people have never been employed so that they cannot have contributed to the public funds by way of taxation. Surely, if no-one were obliged to work, this would lead to national bankruptcy. Nothing can be more demoralising than to be without work, as many who went through the depression years would testify. It is damaging to one’s self-respect and most recipients of unemployment

benefit would prefer to work for their livelihood. What do these non-workers want out of life? If they are searching for freedom, then “Social Worker” should tell them that perfect freedom can be achieved only through service and never through slothfulness, which leads nowhere but to stagnation and eventual decay.—Yours, etc., O. PICTON JONES. December 17, 1968.