‘Stress not recognised’

Press, 23 July 1987, Page 36

‘Stress not recognised’

PA Wellington Federated Fanners has criticised the Government for not recognising the emotion and stress among fanning families during the rural crisis. In the annual report, the president of the federation, Mr Peter Elworthy, said the Rural Needs Grant, announced in the July, 1986, package, did not address the real problems. The Bay of Plenty province subsequently established a pilot scheme

based on the Social Welfare Department’s Whakatane office. This identified those people In need of help and ensured the appropriate support was delivered.

The federation sought to have this scheme extended to all New Zealand. In spite of continued pressure this request had so far not been granted, Mr Elworthy said. A major objective during the year was constantly to remind deci-sion-makers and the pub-

lie of the importance of maintaining the main productive base of the econ-' omy. Unfortunately the focus on new, particularly city-based financial activities diverted attention from this. "The federation, therefore, proposes to increase its efforts to emphasise the importance of exportled growth, particularly in the light of New Zealand’s rapidly expanding overseas indebtedness," Mr Elworthy said.