Employment

Press, 27 July 1989, Page 12

Employment

Sir, —Recently the New Zealand Employment Service has been promoting a higher profile through the use of television and newspaper advertising. It is appropriate to write and inform the public at large of the ineptitude of the current “upmarket” regime. In February I applied for a vacancy at the Papanui centre advertised in "The Press.” Five months later I am still waiting to be sent an acknowledgement of my letter or advice of a successful/unsuccessful application. I have contacted the staff at Papanui, who have courteously informed me that no appointment has been made. If this is indicative of the professionalism of the service, please redirect our taxes to the police force to help curb some of the 170,000 frustrated unemployed from “helping themselves.” In future, could the Employment Service get its own “house in order” before making promises it cannot deliver within this depressed labour market.— Yours, etc.,

P. MARRYATT. July 12, 1989.

[The Employment Service area general manager, Mr E. L. Gillum, replies: “An oversight in our administration of this vacancy has resulted in Mr Marryatt and some other applicants not being advised, first, of the receipt of his application, second, of progress in filling the vacancy. We have reviewed our procedures for managing appointments to vacancies and I have written separately to Mr Marryatt on this matter.”]

Sir, —Margaret Murray is suggesting a job opportunities scheme which would see the Government paying part of the wages of the long-term unemployed who find-a position. This is no more than a subsidy to

employers, giving them a chance to profit from cheap labour. Why is. it only at election time that such schemes become respectable? If anyone should be subsidising production in New Zealand it should be those who are profiting most from the present situation. The two mainstream parties have’ bought into the propaganda of the rich — that this country will only profit when the cunning are able to make money without check. Neither party has the courage nor, I suspect, the inclination to take back control of the economy. Party members are too scared of the myth they helped to create, that such control is fascist or, worse, communist. Surely control of the economy by a government accountable to the people is preferable to control of the economy by a few greedies, which is what we have now? — Yours, etc.,

HEATHER SMITH. July 20, 1989.