Churches favour work schemes

Press, 17 March 1987, Page 22

Churches favour work schemes

PA Hamilton Two church groups have criticised the termination of the contract work scheme. The joint MethodistPresbyterian public questions committee said the scheme was not given fair evaluation before it ended.

The co-convener of the committee, Mr Bob McClymont, said it be-

lieved the Government had responded too hastily to the police report into abuse of the scheme. The committee said some contracts taken by gangs in Christchurch had had inadequate supervision.

“It seems most unreasonable to focus so strongly on the shortcomings of the gangs when, in fact, inadequate oversight by the Labour Department appears to have played an important part,” the committee said. Both the contract work scheme and the group employment liaison scheme should be given a second chance "with much greater recognition of the important social objectives of such schemes ; and adequate supervision and support of the groups taking contracts.”

The committee said that judging the scheme in terms of cost-efficiency was inappropriate. because of • the disadvantages of gang members, including low educational few work skills, and difficulties in working with others.