Fears of pressure groups’ take-over

Press, 14 July 1987, Page 9

Fears of pressure groups’ take-over

Fears have been expressed in Christchurch' that new community based committees being set up to advise and monitor the Social Welfare Department might be selected from pressure groups. “We do not want minority pressure groups who have loud voices, and who jump up and down until they are heard,” said Mrs Ruby Selby, a community worker and convener for the Home Based Support Services conference soon to be held in Christchurch. Christchurch will have its own committee of up to seven community members who will monitor the Social Welfare Department and decide on welfare funding activities. Mrs Selby said that the committee members should come from all walks of life and have a broad knowledge of com-

munity needs. This was important. The Canterbury Hospital Board co-ordinator of geriatric and domiciliary services, Mr Peter Andrew, said the committees represented one of the biggest changes that had occurred in social welfare since Michael Joseph Savages’ reforms almost 50 years ago. He said he feared people representing minority groups “for their own ends” could be put on the committee. This could lead to problems because decisions on funding had to be made. Mr Andrew said people with common sense and a good general knowledge of the community should be nominated. A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on July 21, at the Canterbury Public Library, to discuss the new committees.