New Zealanders ready to work harder, poll finds

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 4

New Zealanders ready to work harder, poll finds

Many New Zealanders seem prepared to work harder to improve the country’s economy, a survey has found. Thirty-five per cent say that working harder to improve overseas earnings would inconvenience them least; and 45 per cent favour relieving unemployment by working harder to create more production and more sales, and hence more jobs. An apparent fatalism about unemployment — which would, perhaps, have been absent a few years ago — is shown by 11 per cent of people questioned. They believe that no solution is possible and that unemployment has become permanent.

Nine per cent believe that married women with schoolchildren should not be allowed to work. A higher school leaving age and a lower retirement age are favoured by 5 per cent in each case.

Fifty-eight per cent of those questioned apparently are willing to see increased restraints on overseas expenditure. They say they would be least inconvenienced by spending less on overseas travel and im ported goods. (New Zealand’s cur ten: account deficit, as shown by the Reserve Bank fig ures of overseas exchange transactions, was 5422 M in the year ended March 1979. The Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Adams-Schneider) said last week that to save substantial amounts of overseas exchange on Imports, controls would need to be so severe they would impede production through lack of supplies of raw materials and equipment tor industry.) _ a

Cuts in travel spending would least inconvenience people aged 25 to 34, many of whom are tied with young families. Those who would feel most inconvenienced are those aged 55 and over. The findings come from a “New Zealand Herald”National Research Bureau survey of 2200 people aged 15 and over, selected by random probability methods. The survey was held throughout New Zealand at the end of March.

People were shown a list of choices and were asked: “Which method of improving our overseas position would inconvenience you the least?” Their preferences for the listed methods were: Spending less on imported goods 36 per cent: working harder to improve our overseas earnings 35; spending less on overseas travel 22; other choices 3; don’t know 4.

The main “other choices” were tax incentives, less Government control, and less industrial unrest.

Less import spending is preferred more by men than women. It is preferred most by those aged 15 to 24, and in Dunedin provincial areas, and least Sy those aged 55 and over an in Auckland provincial ■reas.

Working harder is preerred more by women than men. It is preferred most by those aged 55 and over and in Auckland city, and least by those aged 15 to 34, and least with those and in Auckland provincial areas.

provincial areas. Less overseas travel spending is preferred more by men than women. As stated, it finds most

favour with those aged 25 to 34, and least with those aged 55 and over. It is preferred most in Auckland provincial areas and least in Auckland city. O n unemployment, people were shown a list and were asked: “Which method of relieving our high unemployment level would you favour?” Their preferences for the listed methods were: Working harder to create more production and more sales, resulting in more jobs 45 per cent; using more people and fewer machines for jobs 10; not allowing married women with school children to work 9; raising the school leaving age 5; lowering the retirement age 5; other choices 11; no solution is possible; unemployment is a permanent part of a modern industrial society like New Zealand 11; don’t konw 4. The main “other choices” were: • — Reduce or cut out the unemployment benefit and put all unemployed on suitable relief or social work. — More incentives to work and create jobs. — Restructure the economy, including more over seas investment, fewer government restrictions and more import substitu tion. — Shorter working hours. - Lower wages. — Only fully retired people eligible for superannuation. — Do not allow women with grown-up families to work. — Stop immigration. — Reduce industrial unrest.

—- More training. — Change the Government.

Working harder is preferred more by women than men. It is preferred most by those aged 55 and over and in Dunedin city, and least by those aged 15 to 24 and in Auckland provincial areas. More people, fewer machines appeals more to women than men. It is preferred most by those aged 15 to 24 and in Wellington city, and least by those aged 55 and over and in Dunedin provincial areas.

b-o work for married women with school children is preferred more by women than men. It is preferred most by those aged 55 and over and in Christchurch provincial areas, and least by those aged 25 to 34 and 45 to 54 and in Dunedin city. Raising the school-leav-ing age is preferred more by women than men. It is preferred most by those aged 15 to 24 and in Auckland provincial areas, and least by those aged 55 and over and in Dunedin city.

Lowering the retirementage is preferred more by men than women. It is preferred most by those aged 45 to 54 and inChristchurch city, and least by those aged 25 to 34 and in Dunedin city. No solution is the conclusion of more men than women. The opinion is most strongly held by those aged 25 to 34 and in Dunedin provincial areas, and least rongly held by those aged 55 and over and in Auckland provincial areas.

(Copyright 1979— "The New Zealand Herald.’’)