MRS MARY BATCHELOR Move to improve family life

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 12

MRS MARY BATCHELOR Move to improve family life

Labour wants to restore, the foundations of a strong family life for New Zealanders and Avon’s residents who are "in the main hardworking individuals who want to do the best they can for their families,” says Mrs Mary Batchelor. Top priority is given to employment; a strong prices policy, tax relief, an active housing policy, more flexible subsidies on basic commodities and more preventive and community health-care, says Mrs Batchelor.

Labour promises more Home Aid,... education ;,ais_. home management skills .'iff-: eluding budgeting, assistance for families with disabled' children or aged dependents and ensuring the Tourist

Hotel Corporation provides family holiday accommodation.

Mrs Batchelor says every family deserves to be able to their own home and Labour will institute income’■'related mortgages to deal with “crippling” interest rates.

The rest of the housing package includes portable Housing Corporation loans, refinancing of the worst cases of excessive repayments on inadequate mortgages, no deposit loans for families able to renovate g their homes, and Housing Corporation loans to eventually meet 80 per cent of the cost of home and section.

The family budget will also be helped by Labour’s promise to make the first $6O a week of income tax-free, says Mrs Batchelor.

“I recently introduced a private member’s bill to try to have the 13-week travel ban on superannuitants lifted to enable people who were

travelling overseas, perhaps to see. children and grandchildren, to do so without being penalised,” she says. “I have also attempted to have the laws on domestic violence changed.” ..Mrs . Batchelor first entered Parliament with the Labour government of 1972. She is Labour’s spokeswoman on women and family affairs and associate spokeswoman on social welfare. “I. have always tried to give personal representation to my constituents,” she says. “They need never feel that they will be taken for granted, but that they can continue to come to me and that I will continue to do my best to help them.”