Unemployment

Press, 12 February 1981, Page 16

Unemployment

Sir — What a strange claim by Robin Williams (February 10) that “unemployment has grown along with the Welfare State” (i.e. that the Welfare State is responsible for unemployment.) The Welfare State grew out .of unemployment: And in any case, .it has really • always been with us in some form on the understanding that whether it be Israelites in the wilderness or .Kiwis ■ in New Zealand we belong to a family — a nation — and : that ’ the seemingly inevitable inequalities and disadvantages within a society must be ameliorated if only to prevent a breakdown of law and order espe- . daily with the "mass” society of today. I do not kmow what Robin Williams’ -"something” is that he is doing about the unemployment question- but if it

would work for 100,000 or whatever number of people are wanting work, perhaps he would tell us. — Yours, etc • - G. C. SUGGATE. February 11, 1981. Sir, — People have been moaning to your columns about unemployment. I own a small business and these are the reasons I will not increase my staff: first, I am so heavily taxed, regulated and harassed by petty bureaucrats that expansion and job creation are very difficult. Second, I have two marginal job vacancies which are worth to me slightly less than the “minimum wage.” I cannot legally pay under the minimum wage so instead of hiring two workers, my sons and I do the • work ourselves. I have turned away from my eate many people who have been too proud to work for the wages I offer; they are not however too proud to live off my taxes in the form of the dole. In my opinion Government regulations, unions and slack attitudes are the problem, not unemployment. — Yours, etc L. J. WESTON. February 10, 1981. Sir, — The statement by Robin Williams (February 10) “that unemployment has grown along with the Welfare State,” is demonstrably untrue. Unemployment was rife in the 1930 s and was ended for 20 years by the creation of the Welfare State. The National Party’s winding down of the Welfare State has resulted in an explosion of unemployment' to levels that most free market economies have suffered for years. I am not sure what the correspondent means by “the Government should have responsibility for our lives” but I am sure that the Government has ~ responsibility to create the circumstances in which people can find meaningful work. — Yours, etc BRIAN ARPS. February 10, 1981.