The economy

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 16

The economy

Sir, — I find the somewhat defeatist approach of your editorial on inflation (August 17) quite alarmingIt is. this very attitude that is taking the country to-

wards economic collapse. In common with the Muldoon Government and its supporters, you trot out the usual red herrings about overseas oil, increased productivity and worker wage restraint. Would you please quote the date and awards that forced the Muldoon Government to raise the price of surplus electricity 42 per cent, increase the postal and service charges of a SSOM profit Government department, and place a stupid and iniquitous tax on the road haulage companies? Please note, I quote only three out of numerous anomalies. There is far too much “yab-ber-yabber” about what is expected of the -workers and too little positive action by the Muldoon Government to get the economy rolling again. What are they scared of — full employment? — Yours, etc., ARTHUR MAY. August 17, 1979. [lf roads are to be maintained and new ones built, and if Post Office and other services are to be improved and enlarged to meet public demand, someone has to pay and to meet higher wage bills. If this does not happen, presumably unemployment will increase. Even now, expenditure and work on the roads, for example, are insufficient to meet what many users—not to mention contractors and their employees—would like. —Editor]