Work schemes ended

Press, 3 February 1987, Page 1

Work schemes ended

OLIVER RIDDELL

By

in Wellington

All contract work schemes funded by the Government, including the controversial funding of gang work, were ended yesterday. The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said that the Cabinet had met yesterday and agreed to terminate schemes, while honouring

arrangements already made.

“I am afraid that from time .to time these schemes have been characterised by rip-offs,” he said.

The good work, that had been accomplished through them had been obscured by the bad.

It was essential to address the question of how society effectively targeted resources to the

disadvantaged and socially- ill-adjusted, Mr Lange said. What was needed was a scheme embodying the same basic principles but with more appropriate criteria. “Given how some of these schemes have been operating, it would be indefensible to continue with them on their original basis,” he said. The Government had

not decided what would replace the contract work schemes. It came back to a question of the criteria and how the schemes were administered, Mr Lange said. It was not the fault of the gangs that the criteria were too loose and the schemes poorly run. Further reports, pages 2, ■3