Regarding comments by Martin Wilson: For many years I felt the same way as M Wilson's comments about immigrants and our high unemployment rate. Now I have seen the other side of the coin.

I taught Agriculture at Waiariki for six years and these comments are first hand. Of the 15 students I had ranging from 16 to 44 years old, 13 of them were dependant on drugs.

To ask them to attend a course by 8.30 am was in the same bracket as the government trying to lower our deficit, nearly impossible.

For weeks it was spelt out to them there is NO employment unless you are reliable and drug free but we were talking to the walls of the Institute.

I took them to a class room full of Indian students one day to try to motivate them to stop the drugs, by explaining that one day in the future you could be working for them. They swore and said 'they are stealing our jobs” I had to therefore explain they were 'not stealing your jobs. All you have to do is turn up for work and be drug free and you could have that job.”

You are off the mark Martin blaming the government when they should have had their morals instilled into them by their parents.

Darrell Hellier, Matapihi.