A community ‘under stress’ calls for help

Press, 18 June 1986, Page 13

A community ‘under stress’ calls for help

A full-time community worker is required in Kaiapoi to assist the “considerable number of people under real stress,” according to a submission which will be made to the Social Welfare Department. The submission, which was drawn up by a coordinating group of residents concerned about Kaiapoi’s social problems, received the support of the Kaiapoi Borough Council on Monday evening. Problems of unemployment, low income, low self-esteem, alcohol and child abuse and loneliness had a significant flow-on effect to young people, the submission said. Citing an interview with a local youth worker, the submission suggests that although the number of street kids in Kaiapoi has dropped, the publicity given to this problem in Christchurch has continued to make street life < attractive to some. " f The lack of local ema ployment was also a real * concern, according to the * youth worker. * Some respondents to a » survey included in the * submission said that * Rangiora, which had a « similar population to ’ Kaiapoi, received a better £ social and health service. « A full-time community J worker would co-ordinate » a team of local volun--1 teers, and this would be » part of an attempt by the * community to solve its J own problems, .the sub- » mission said. Kaiapoi ' Borough would ultimately ,i pay for the communit

worker itself, but the Social Welfare Department was being asked to finance the position for about four years. In supporting the submission, Cr Margaret Cleland said that Kaiapoi’s social worker was only in the borough for 2*/ 2 days a week. Pensioner flats An attempt to hold off rent increases in the borough’s pensioner flats was defeated by the council. Cr Hec McAllister attempted to have a decision made on May 19, to increase the rents rescinded, and to replace it with a motion deferring any increase until October 1 this year. Many pensioners had lost their partners many years ago and were living on a very limited income, Cr McAllister said. Pension increases had been eated away by price rises, yet pensioners were always among the first to pay their rents and rates. He conceded that Kaiapoi rents were below those of many other local bodies, but said that he was only interested in the interests of the Kaiapoi pensioners. Cr Cleland said she had not come across any pensioners who opposed the increased rents, and said that as the flats had aged money was always required for maintenance. The Mayor of Kaiapoi, Mr Howard Cumberland, said that the only effect of deferring the increases would be to also defer much-needed work on the

flats. Rents for single pensioner flats have risen from $l7 to $l9 and from $22 to $24. Double flats have increased from $24 to $27. Opposition The council decided to support opposition from the Municipal Association of New Zealand to the Local Authorities (Elections, Polls and Voting Rights) Bill, which is now before Parliament. Cr Cleland said the bill was discriminatory because it took local authority voting power from non-resident rate-payers. “Anyone who pays rates to the borough really should have a voice,” she said. Solomons Kaiapoi could soon have an informal sistercity relationship with a difference. Responding to a letter from Mr Murray Ruddenklau, a former Kaiapoi borough engineer, the council has decided to support channeling Kaiapoi’s relief assistance to the Solomon Islands through the village of Riverside. Mr Cumberland suggested that helping this village recover from Cyclone Namu could be more useful than sistercity relationships with less needy places. Cr McAllister said he had fond memories of the Solomon Islands and its people from when he was stationed there during World War 11.