stall and other job opportunities are on the cards.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome added that a survey of Hamilton's vagrants will be undertaken to gauge the extent of the problem.

But he stressed there was no need for anyone to be begging for food.

He said: "We will take a couple of students coming home for the summer and use them to do a survey of individuals on the streets of Hamilton.

"We will look at services and things which are available to them right now.

"We know a number of these individuals go to the Salvation Army shelter where they get three meals a day so sometimes money goes towards other habits that they may have.

"We think there are about 15 individuals who are from time to time on the streets of Hamilton.

"When we get an exact number we can know who those individuals are and where they stay. In that way we can assist and tackle the problem.

"We are taking a social approach not a punitive approach.'' He said the results of the survey should be ready in about a month.

A committee of business, Government, Corporation of Hamilton and citizen representatives will be formed to put forward new ways to tackle the begging menace, added Mr. Bascome.

Likely committee member Tony Forster, who heads Britannia International Group, said: "One of the things we are looking at is if we can avoid using hard currency to anyone who is begging and whether anyone who needs help can be given help through tokens.'' Mr. Forster said the token scheme would also work for the rest of Hamilton's 168 homeless, most of whom are not involved in begging.

Tokens would be valid for food and soft drinks but not for liquor.

Local campaigner Charles Spanswick, who has been vocal about the begging problem, said he hoped the new committee would be given legal power to supervise former beggars.

And he denied he had previously taken a hard line stance on the issue.

"There is no alternative to prison at this stage. At the moment, if you can't pay the fine you do your time. There's no other choice.'' Mr. Spanswick also took a swipe at the Woodshop programme which finds employment for ex-prisoners.

He said: "I have some problems with the Woodshop but I don't want to elaborate at this stage.''