Protection urged of poor

Press, 14 March 1985, Page 28

Protection urged of poor

PA Wellington The Government must move urgently to protect the poor in New Zealand, according to the Mental Health Foundation. The foundation’s chairman, Professor Andrew Hornblow, told a board meeting that the Government needed to protect lowincome earners as it rebuilt the economy.

“This will require urgent new initiatives to increase the State housing stock, an enormous employmentcreation programme, and an adequate living income for all people,” he said. The foundation would approach the Government to make this point, he said. The foundation’s board had particularly noted the significant impact of the lifting of the rent freeze, the

increase in food prices, and the proposed value added tax on low-income earners and beneficiaries, said Professor Hornblow. Toe effects of the changing economy on mental health and well-being were of deep concern to the foundation, as they were considered one of the major mental health issues confronting New Zealand in the next five years.