A study of the jobs

Press, 17 November 1978, Page 11

A study of the jobs

By

KEN COATES

Television and Radio

•Prime Time’s” bid to explore the unemployment problem by inviting two politicians and a panel of jobless into the studio in Auckland was farcical. The object of a current affairs programme is presumably to explore issues of the day and inform viewers on underlying reasons for problems and possible solutions. The Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) was strongly defensive of his department and canvassed strongly on behalf of a

home for the elderly which that morning had advertised for domestic help. Labour’s spokesman, Mr Isbey, failed to spell out clearly what his party would do to end unemployment and he seemed intent only on electioneering and scoring political points. Jim Hopkins, who seemed to be coming along nicely as an interviewer, was labelled as “moderator” in the credits. But this was a misnomer. He appeared to decide early in the piece that directing a coherent discussion between two groups as far apart as politicians and jobless was beyond him. For the most part he

stood speechless at his rostrum between the two rival politicians, his only useful function being to keep the two physically apart. Viewers heard from only four of the group of about 20 unemployed. Those who spoke seemed to have genuine problems, but neither Mr Gordon nor Mr Isbey were interested in providing satisfactory answers. The piece was tantalising because it raised interesting questions, such as the importing of Aus-

tralians for shearing gangs, without providing answers. The programme could have been more productive if TVI had carried out more research of its own — like, for example, fields in which jobs are short and trends in the placement of 80,000 workers a year by the Labour Department. Something on the nature and length of special work schemes could also have been worth while. “Prime Time’s” other offering also dealt with an important subject —

television exposure of politicians and parties. But the channel seems to be inhibited by a refusal by the National Party to allow it access to its advertising agency, and to screen clips of its current advertising. Viewers were left with the distinct impression that because the National Party said advertising executives must not talk about its commercials, then TVI considered it must not thoroughly examine the subject. This restricted the visual balance of the pro-

gramme, but there are other ways of dealing with what National is

doing on television. A couple of facts thrown in early in the piece were fascinating. One was that Mr Rowling has had speech lessons, and the other that Mr Muldoon was given a selection of hair styles. The mind boggles — what possible variation could be given to the remaining bristles which adorn the pate of the Prime Minister? “Prime Time" lacked a hard cutting edge of inquiry, a quality which is all the more necessary in the period before a General Election