Socialism

Press, 5 July 1977, Page 16

Socialism

Sir, — Gerald Henry (“The Press,” July 2), complains that it has become easier to fail in our society. While social welfare should not be used to “whisk money” from the taxpayer’s pocket into the pockets of “bludgers” (L. A. Hunt, “The Press,” June 28), that is not what social welfare (if we must call it that) is about. It is about the inescapable fact that individuals differ through no fault of their own. Our capitalist society is not geared* to cope with this, but only to “use” it, handsomely rewarding the clever, ambitious, and able — even the cunning and the tough. Everyone else has to

be “motivated” to work by sticks and carrots. This, surely, is the difference from a socialist approach which seeks a co-operative basis for survival. Only if society is based on co-operation is it fair to label “bludgers” thus. As it is, all are bludgers of a kind. — Yours, etc., G. C. SUGGATE, July 2, 1977.

Sir, —Gerald Henry (“The Press”, July 2) should be reminded that as a member of the privileged “white male club” he is statistically less likely to encounter difficulty in obtaining employment than those who make up discriminatedagainst sectors of society — women and Polynesians. Recently, in spite of con-

slant effort to obtain work, I was unemployed for three months. This was because of an acute shortage of jobs “especially for females" — to quote the labour exchange. I received a weekly benefit of $38.40; as the average weekly wage is approximately $llO (gross) it should be obvious to Mr Henry that we so-called “bludgers” are rewarded substantially less than such “producers” as himself. What alternative does he propose to our present social welfare system? Perhaps he would prefer to tee the recipients of benefits justifying their existence by begging in the streets and foraging in rubbish tins. — Yours, etc.,

MS S. McIVOR July 2, 1977.