Proposal for council youth worker

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 18

Proposal for council youth worker

The, Christchurch City Council should take responsibility for problems involving youth in the city and appoint a full-time youth worker, Cr A. F. Orme considers. He plans to bring a proposal along these lines before the next council meeting on December 13.

“It is just as important for the council to spend money on people as it is on roads, footpaths, services, and facilities for the Commonwealth Games,” Cr Orme said yesterday. An informal meeting had already been held with representatives of youth organisations, Cr Orme said. From the information given, it was quite clear that there was a need to employ a skilled per-

son supported by the council to help shoulder the burden of voluntary organisations. “There are major problems involving young people in our cities—drug abuse, unmarried mothers, poor accommodation, unemployment, trouble with the police, are some,” Cr Orme said.

“Solving these should be given first priority.” The City Council had a duty to take the lead in helping young people deal with the pressures of modern urban living, and so improve the quality of life in the city. Cr Orme emphasised that a full-time officer, qualified in counselling, would co-ordin-ate efforts in this field, and work with existing agencies. The officer would have to be mature and fully experienced to be effective.