Unemployed still top worry—poll

Press, 19 December 1989, Page 3

Unemployed still top worry—poll

Unemployment still ranks as voters’ main concern, with 50 per cent of respondents in the last “New Zealand Herald”-National Research Bureau poll for 1989 mentioning it as the most important problem that New Zealand faces. While the response dropped eight points from the previous poll in August, unemployment is still far ahead of the next big concern, the economy in general, up a point at 11 per cent. Racial concern, the quality of government and the’ social climate maintain a relatively steady level in the eyes pf voters being virtually unchanged since the last poll.

The top 10 problems now account for 94 per cent of voters’ primary concerns. Labour and National supporters, as well as the uncommitted, put unemployment at the top of the list as the main problem facing Nev/ Zealand. All three groups also have the economy, racial problems and law and order ranking among their five primary concerns. While Labour supporters are more likely also to mention the social climate, National supporters and the uncommitted see quality of Government as one of the top five problems. For Labour supporters, the main issues are: Unemployment, 53 per cent; economy, 14 per cent; racial problems, 9

Law and order has risen four points from 3 per cent, its highest level of concern since May last year. The survey was taken between December 3 and 8, after investigations into the murder of an English tourist, Monica Cantwell, on Mount Maunganui. The poll was conducted among 2000 eligible voters picked by random-prob-ability methods from the 20 main centres. They were interviewed face-to-face and asked: “What is the single most important problem facing New Zealand right now?” Their answers, compared wth those of previous polls, were:

per cent; law and order, 5 per cent; social climate, 4 per cent. For National supporters, they are: Unemployment, 47 per cent; economy, 10 per cent; racial problems, 10 per cent; law and order 10 per cent; government, 9 per cent. For uncommitted voters, they are: Unemployment, 49 per cent; economy, 10 per cent; government, 10 per cent; racial problems, 7 per cent; law and order, 7 per cent. All results are subject to a maximum statistical sampling error of plus or minus 2 per cent. Copyright 1989 —The “New Zealand Herald.”

Dec ’89 % Aug ’89 % April ’89 % Sep ’88 % May '88 % Dec ’87 % Unemployment 50 58 54 55 48 31 Economy in general 11 10 12 12 13 2 Racial concerns 9 7 5 11 / 4 Law and order 7 3 3 5 8 13 Government 7 7 10 5 4 4 Social climate Public morality 5 4 5 5 5 5 Overseas Trade 2 1 1 2 3 2 Environment 1 1 1 — — — Drug/alcohol abuse 1 1 1 — 2 1 Inflation 1 1 2 1 2 4