Unemployment ‘biggest problem’

Press, 31 March 1981, Page 6

Unemployment ‘biggest problem’

Unemployment remains the most important problem facing New Zealand, according • to the latest “New Zealand Herald”National Research Bureau poll. The next most important problem is industrial relations, for which concern has increased almost ninefold since January. Concern about major economic problems — the general state ‘ of the economy, inflation, overseas trade, and unemploy-ment—-registers 64 per cent

compared with 69 per cent in January. These are among the results of a survey of 2000 eligible voters selected by random probability methods from the 20 main population areas of New Zealand., It was taken between March 7 and March 11. The question was: “What is the single most important problem facing New Zealand right how?” The answers, compared with those of previous polls, are as follows:

The Springbok tour is a voters’ primary concerns non-issue in relation to now, compared with 91 per these 10 problems. It cent in January, scored 0.2 per cent. The top 10 problems Copyright, 1981 — “New account for 96 per cent of Zealand Herald.”

Mar. Jan. Nov. July May Nov. July May 81 % 81 % 80 80 80 % 79 79 79 % Unemployment 35 38 33 20 11 13 10 10 Industrial relations 17 2 8 2 5 I) 7 4 The economy in general 14 16 18 23 22 22 26 32 Inflation 10 13 13 18 25 13 9. 11 Social climate/ public morality 8 a 7 9 9 10 10 10 Overseas trade ,1 4 4 8 3 6 8 Government 4 5 .) 5 4 6 6 7 Energy crisis/ petrol - shortage 1 3 3 2 6 11 13 4 Law and order 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 Drugs/alcohol abuse 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1