What Students Did in the Holidays

Judging from a superficial glance at the results of the questionnaire given out at enrolment, students have had a pretty difficult summer. On 2nd December 1977 there were nearly 200 students registered as unemployed in Wellington and the Hutt Valley. At the same time in 1976 there were only 37 students registered as unemployed.

However, Wellington was by no means the hardest hit area; Auckland and Christchurch showed a higher percentage increase in unemployed students.

Not only were jobs harder to find but they tended to be of shorter duration and fairly low-paid. According to the Welfare Services' records in the summer vacation of 1975/76 there were approximately 637 jobs lasting 6 weeks or longer ; in 1977/78 there were only 357 jobs lasting 6 weeks or longer.

Again it was women students who found found it particularly difficult. According to records taken of jobs which came in through the Students' Association employment centre only 42% of the jobs could be taken up by women, 58% of the jobs were for men. Added to this, most of the work for women tended to be low-paid domestic employment.

So, where does this leave the students facing living costs of 1978?

According to estimates prepared by the V.U.W. Welfare Services, an average student, budgeting carefully, will face expenses of approximately $1,800 during the year. Most students will have saved perhaps on average around $300-5500. If a student is lucky enough s/he will receive the anabated rate of $992. Add holiday earnings of $500 (average) and the student is still short by $400.

For many students this will mean greater parental reliance or a bank loan, or dropping out completely.

At the first SRC. (Students' Representative Council) we will be discussing these issues and what we can do about them. Come along and give your views.