Citizens’ Advice Bureau has increased inquiries

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33625, 29 August 1974, Page 15

Citizens’ Advice Bureau has increased inquiries

Inquiries at the Christchurch Citizens’ Advice Bureau continue to increase. For the four weeks to August 16, there had been 504 calls, an increase of 42 on the previous fourweek period, said the bureau organiser (Mr S. J. A. Lunn.

Clients had been referred to the bureau from the police, the State Advances Corporation, the Department of Social XVelfare, and from several Church welfare organisations. “To maintain the- service, most of the interviewers have volunteered to attend twice a week when needed —and it appears it will be necessary to increase their numbers,” Mrs Lunn said. There had been 172 calls to the bureau for local and national information; 16 calls for social welfare, health and medical information, 57 calls for consumer, and financial information; and 55 calls from people with family and personal difficulties.

The calls averaged 126 a week, and 25.2 a day. About 69 per . cent were from women and girls.

Some of the calls were: wanting to know where to buy a Br.ownie uniform; an age beneficiary wanting a [rebate ,on rates; a person seeking the address of an

[Auckland lawyer; a query about the address of the Israeli consulate in Christchurch; an inquiry about a society for the protection of trees; and one about the disposal of a ton of unsold local magazines. One woman had telephoned the bureau to say that after “years of hobbling” she could now walk properly because the bureau had supplied her with the names of shoe stores which catered for people with difficult feet. “She wanted us to know she was Very happy,” said Mrs Lunn.