Boss exposes subsidy on strippers

Press, 7 October 1988, Page 1

Boss exposes subsidy on strippers

PA Auckland The Labour Department in Auckland has been left with egg on its face after a West Auckland man revealed he obtained a SI2OO subsidy to set up a strip-o-gram service last month. Mr Chris Anderson, of New Lynn, said he applied under the department’s self-employment subsidy scheme to run the strip-o-gram business, “providing adult entertainment.”

But the department said he applied to set up an “entertainment agency” and there was no mention of strippers. The Henderson Employment Centre’s manager, Mr Dick Burns, said the man’s application went through the standard channels before it was processed and scrutinised by an advisory officer in the Internal Affairs Department. He said the officer had re-

sponsibility for recommending whether the scheme was viable. Once that was done the department decided if it would supply instance, Mr Burns said, the application fitted the criteria and the subsidy was granted. He admitted the department did not have the resources to follow-up on everyone given subsidies. Funds granted to Mr Anderson were less than the dole money he

was receiving before the scheme was approved, Mr Burns said. Mr Anderson said he told both the Labour Department and the Internal Affairs Department that his business would involve strippers, and there was no objection. ; He questioned why he , was being criticised for setting up a scheme which provided employment for himself and two women.