Brigade row may hit Royal tour

Press, 22 February 1977, Page 1

Brigade row may hit Royal tour

PA Wanganui Emergency service arrangements at some provincial airports during the Royal tour may be in jeopardy in the light of threats yesterday by firemen to take total strike action over a pay dispute. However, the Fire Sendee Commission says alternative arrangements are being made. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are due to arrive at Auckland today to begin their two-week tour. They will step ashore from the Royal barge at Devonport Naval base at 10 a.m.

Some firemen are threatening to walk off stations — and others to intensify a ban on routine duties — if the Fire Service Commission goes ahead with a threat to sack brigadesmen on partial strike, and also evict them from sendee-provided accommodation.

The strike may mean that appliances from provincial brigades will not be present during the "full alerts" at provincial airports during the Royal tour. .

Airport crash (ire crews are not involved in the dispute, but emergency services at airports outside the main centres are backed up by local brigades, most of which are already on partial strike, attending emergency calls only.

Provincial airpons the Royal party is scheduled to use include Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga. Rotorua, Napier, New Plymouth. Taupo, Gisborne, Palmerston Nonh, Invercargill, Queenstown, Timaru and Hokitika. The ban may also mean that fire appliances required to stand-by while the Royal yacht Britannia is in port will not be available.