The bureau for advice

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33442, 25 January 1974, Page 28

The bureau for advice

Are turkey eggs suitable for pavlovas? This is one of the 1180 inquiries which lune heen tackled by the stall’ of the Christchurch City Council’s citizens’ advice bureau at 203 Gloucester Street since the office was opened on .June 11. The bureau’s organiser (Mrs J. Lunn) said that the figure was more than double the number of inquiries made in about 13 months at the bureau at its old address in the Chamber of Commerce building. Most of the inquiries concerned the location of places in Christchurch, free legal idvice and budgeting, she said. Most were by telephone.

She said that the number of inquiries was growing each month. In the four .weeks to December 14 there iwere 297 inquiries, an increase of 60 over the previous four weeks. In the week from December 14 to 21 there were 52 inquiries. The office then closed until January 7. when there were 17 inquiries in the morning alone. Names of inquirers are kept confidential, but examples of inquiries made during the year were given bv Mrs I Lunn < )ne overseas person wanted a chart for the best times to grow seasonal fruit and vegetables. An English immigrant wanted to know which secondary schools .would be available to her I daughter.

Other inquiries included the following: How long after a will is read can it be contested? . How does one write to the ] Prime Minister? What price should be charged for hand-knitted cloth-1 ing? Can a person deported from New Zealand return for a holiday? When is the best time to plant grass seed? How does a person obtain an unlisted telephone number? | Mrs Lunn said that the I staff of volunteers were able to answer most inquiries or ! ; refer the inquirer to the best) 'place for an answer.