‘Griping’ annoys Minister

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 4

‘Griping’ annoys Minister

PA Wellington - Heads of institutions for young offenders were fed up with “ill-informed griping” which made them appear like "inhuman sadistic monsters,” the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Walker) said. He said in a speech to the new “visiting committees,” which will visit and examine standards at the institutions, that principals and district directors had been instructed to give the committees full access to centres at anv time. ! “We’ve seen to that,” said |Mr Walker, promising full co-operation. . “I might add that they Wellcome the setting up of the ’committees and they welcome I your appointment. “They are all fed up with ill-informed griping which i made them appear like in-

j| human, sadistic monsters whose sole pleasure in life is ’ making life unbearable for ’ captive youngsters.” ,i Mr Walker said that beq cause Social Welfare staff were caring people — “That is why they chose to ; work in the department” — 7 they were upset when thev J.saw and heard the “distor'ition and innuendoes which paraded as fact. 1 “I want to say here and I now that they are not afraid Jof the truth — and I am not jlafraid of the truth.” 1 Looking after children and young persons in institutions - was a difficult and testing 3^ job, he said. The department’s 5 staff never gave up hope that ! youngsters who had not been Table to cope in the communijity would respond to efforts - made to help them.