‘Services threatened’

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 12

‘Services threatened’

PA Wellington The closing of Railways’ East Town workshops in Wanganui last year could not have happened at a worse time, according to a social impact report prepared last August but just made public. The closing threatened some East Town community services, contributed to the region’s already .high unemployment, and affected morale.

One person mentioned in the report said it was like a terminal illness, with all the accompanying stress.

An increasing number of workers were approaching social service agencies for help with family tension and marl-

tai problems. Hard-pressed Wanganui businesses would suffer as

spending dropped while redundant staff looked for work.

Laid-off staff would have problems finding new jobs, while those who decided to leave the city would find it hard to sell their homes.

The report was commissioned by the Railways Corporation and written by a study team from the Ministry of Works and Development’s town and country planning directorate.

“The significance of the role of the Railways in Wanganui cannot be under-estimated in terms of the contribution it has

made to the region for over 100 years," the report said. “... closure of the East Town workshops has come at a time when employment opportunities within the city and the region are poorer than they have been for some years.” The closing jeopardised some services, such as two primary schools and a post office, but residents were rallying to keep them. Redundancy compensation totalled $6.5 million. Pressure on social ser-

vice agencies would increase as the stress of unemployment and job searching took its toll, the report said.