Money worries less popular

Press, 13 June 1978, Page 6

Money worries less popular

E irtatt political opinion sur-

The polling shows that concern about both unemployment and inflation have continued to fall since The ’ sampling came five weeks after the consumer price index had the lowest quarterly rise for more than five vears. Public worry about inflation, among the problems facing the country, now registers less than 10 per cent for the first time since the regular polls began in mid--197::.. Economic concerns — including the general state of rhe economy, overseas trade and unemployment, as well as inflation — have receded for the second successive The main worries are now rather more diverse; the top 10 problems account for 87 per cent of voters’ main worries, compared with 92 per cent in March.

’ Most concern about those’ i top 10 problems is shown by; i the following groups: ? The economy: Womens Wellington city residents,! : people aged 45 to 54, Social; r Credit supporters. Industrial relations: Men? : Dunedin provincial area resi-| dents, those aged 55 and; • over. National supporters. ; Unemployment: ' Women,, • Christchurch city residents,; : people aged 55 and over, i • Labour supporters. Social climate/public mor-| ality: Men, Dunedin City residents, those aged 55 and I over. Values supporters. Inflation: Men, Dunedin’ I city residents. 25 to 34-year-i I olds. Values supporters. ■ Overseas trade: Men. Dunedin city residents, those aged 18 to 24, National sup- • porters. ’ Government: Men, Well-; i ington city residents, 18 to 1 24-year-olds, Values sup-; i porters. I

•1 Law and order: Women.! Dunedin city residents, those aged 45 to 54, Social Credit! ! supporters. • Drug and alcohol abuse:; Women, Dunedin provincial i area residents, 35 to 44-year-i olds, Labour supporters, un’committed voters. ! Family issues: Women,! Auckland provincial area!

.(residents, those aged 55 and (over, National supporters.. J In the week ended May 27, I the poll asked electors: I “What is the single most imi portant problem facing New I Zealand right now?” • Their responses, compared with figures from previous ■ “Herald”-N.R.B. surveys, | show the top 10 problems to ! I be:

May Mar. Jan. Nov. May Nov. May ’78 % ’78 '78 % ’77 % % ’76 % ’76 % The Economy (apart from inflation) 27 26 30 29 29 24 33 Industrial relations 12 11 3 6 6 8 5 Unemployment 12 13 18 8 1 1 2 Social climate/ public morality 10 10 9 10 9 10 Inflation 9 10 15 11 20 14 18 Overseas trade 8 11 8 9 4 *7 Government 4. 4 4 4 6 20 10 Law and order 2 2 1 6 2 3 4 Drugs and alcoholic abuse 2 3 1 2 2 1 I Family issues 1 1 1 1 1. — COPYRIGHT 1978 — the ‘ ‘New Zealand Herald.