N.Z. Social Services Need Co-ordinating

Chronicle (Levin), 8 June 1949, Page 6

N.Z. Social Services Need Co-ordinating

WELLINGTON, June 7. The coordination of the -social services of New Zealand was urged by Professor D. C. Marsh, prof essor of social science at Victoria University College, in an address to the Wellington Rotary Olub. Professor Marsh emphasised that he was not advocating the submergence of the existing organisations in another or their dominance by a new organisation. What was requir'ed was an interchange of knowledge of the , -ai'ms, *aetivities and experience of social service organisations so that a higher standard of service would be achieved and the overlapping of work could be avoided. As an example of ineoordinated activity, Professor Marsh cited attempts being made to solve tHe increasing problem of providing accommodatiou .for old people. A large number .of social service organisations were interesting themselves in it. Each might deeide to establish an Old People 's Home. A number had decided to do so already and if they worked independently there might be dpzens of old peoples homes with none giving the service they shouid give. If they pooled their ideas and exehanged information, each organisation would gain far better results. Commenting on the lack of cdordinated work among the social services, Professor Marsh, who has been eondueting a survey of social service work in New Zealand, said nobody had been able to give him a list of such organisations. He had obtained records of 180 but he guessed there were 500. It was a striking faet that there was no machinery by which they could co-J ordinate their activities. Other eountries provided examples of

the manner in whicn coordination could be achieved. One method might be ta set up a regional council consisting of representatives from each social service organisation, so that there would. be a pool of ideas on the. work. The council conld split itself into standing . cominittees, each to ■ deal with one kind . of activity such as old people 's, youth ;pr community centres. Each would : inake available experienec and informa'iion on particular work, which' the Working organisations could use if t they wished.

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