P PROBLEM PATIENCE URGED

Less haste - and less speed - are advised by two Palmerston North city
councillors over methamphetamine or `P' abuse in the city.

Crs Heather Tanguay and Marilyn Brown say while there is a problem, the city
shouldn't become hysterical about it and instead "take a measured approach"
to the issue.

And they plan to set up a forum to discuss the matter.

The two councillors say talk of a scourge and an epidemic recently by Mayor
Mark Bell-Booth and Drug-Arm co-ordinator Lew Findlay "is not really helpful
to already concerned parents".

The mayor recently announced a campaign to raise money from businesses to
fund a youth worker for drug education in the city.

Cr Tanguay, who is chair of the community development, recreation and
culture committee of council, and Cr Brown, who is the deputy chair, said
the media also need to pause in their approach to the increasing problem of
the use of the drug P.

"The impression is being given that nothing is being done in this city. This
is not so.

"There are already government departments, MidCentral Health, police, Safer
Community Council, Youth One Stop Shop, iwi and community agencies working
with this problem.

"The most important thing is for all drug-related agencies, be they
statutory or community, to be networking and working together in a
co-ordinated manner.

"Everyone must know what is being done as it is uneconomical to duplicate
different types of work."

A deputation on the matter is due before the community development,
recreation and culture meeting next week.

Crs Tanguay and Brown will be asking for the council to establish a forum on
the issue, to bring all those working in the field together.

"This is the appropriate area for the council to be working," they state.