‘Lonely heart’ ethics code

Press, 30 September 1986, Page 25

‘Lonely heart’ ethics code

PA Wellington Concern aroused by the activities of “backyard” lonely heart agencies has resulted in a human relations consultancy, Williams and Associates, setting up a draft code of ethical standards. The chief executive of the Wellington-based firm, Mr B. Williams, said he was concerned about “backyard operations” which hid behind post office boxes and sought clients by stamped, selfaddressed envelopes. Such organisations discredited professional agencies, which often were approached by individuals who had found that such agencies did not provide the service they expected, Mr Williams said. As a result, people who had been bitten once were often extremely reluctant to contact any professional agency. Williams and Associates seeks the approval of other New Zealand agencies in adopting a code of ethical standards. Agencies who agreed with the code would be required to join a society of introduction agencies which would be charged with administration and enforcement. It would be forbidden for members to solicit clients by requesting stamped, self-addressed envelopes to forward material of their activities.