Women organise opposition

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 20

Women organise opposition

Feelings of anger, de- 4 pression and helplessness - in rural areas have '* prompted a group of '1 women in Ashburton County to launch “Rural Sector Concern’’ and invite politicians to public meetings. A spokeswoman, Mrs * Juliet Kirke, said worry- » worn and shell-shocked ; farmers were too ex- J hausted to mount an ef- J fective resistance against economic adversity. 1 The mental energy J needed for effective opposition to the financial ; moves of the Government t was in short supply ( among farmers who were » working harder than ever t before to make ends » meet, she said. ’ A group of about 25 , women from the Foothills ’ district, centred on Stave- « ley, have formed the con- * cern group and although > it was instigated by * women it was not a * women’s group, they said. ? The men were right be- | hind them now and .» Federated Farmers had also given encourage- 5 ment. . - * Members are particularly angry about the pro- £ posed livestock taxation changes issued in the ** guise ' of • "rural jZ support.” ® Invitations to address I and answer questions at a t public meeting have been j sent to the Minister of * ? Finance, Mr Douglas, the { Minister of Agriculture, > Mr Moyle, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr I Palmer. Three Fridays in * March have been offered > as alternatives . •■■