Better budgeting offered

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 18

Better budgeting offered

Far more people could be i helped over their budgetary • and financial problems if (they asked the Christchurch Household Budget and Advisory Service for help before their financial position became irretrievable. The service is a voluntary one which helps people resolve financial problems. For the year ended June 30, 84 .people with a total indebted- • ness of $49,056.99 were interviewed.

I Of these 11 were accepted I for help and four for educaI tion on finance over a short [period, nine went on alone, 126 had insufficient funds to [be helped in paying off debts, : one had debts paid by a relative, and 33 received budget i advice on one occasion. [ In his annual report, the I chairman of the management i committee (Mr M. F. Rogers) said the record of interviews showed persons under the direct control of the service were not as many as the service could handle. Far too many people had reached a

stage where they were beyond assistance by the service.

It must be remembered that, unless a case could service its debts, and within a manageable period of time, the patience required from the debtor and creditor was not available, said Mr Rogers. An application to the Metropolitan Grants Committee for funds had been unsuccessful, he said. Although consideration had been given to shutting down the service, the Christchurch North Round Table had helped by offering to raise enough money to cover a year’s work.

Grants from organisations had been received, including $1250 from the Christchurch City Council.

A national federation of budget advisory services is' being established and the Christchurch branch will urge it to press for Government financial assistance.

Financing the service must be a continuing process so a

steady service could be offered to persons in financial difficulties, said Mr Rogers. The possibility of establishing two suburban offices, possibly in Bishopdale and Hornby, were being considered.

The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay), who chaired the meeting, said it seemed one of the first things disregarded by people when there was some breakdown in the domestic situation was their financial commitments.

The organiser of the Christchurch Citizens’ Advice Bureau (Mrs X. J. Lunn), said a survey in Glen Innes, near Auckland, showed that financial troubles seemed to cause marriage upsets more than anything else. A household budget and advisory service was vital to the welfare of the community.

In an effort to attract people to the service before their financial difficulties go too far, posters will be made and leaflets distributed.