‘Sinister’ comments

Press, 23 August 1977, Page 12

‘Sinister’ comments

The Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan) has challenged the Canterbury secretary of the Public Service Association (Mr J. M. McKenzie) to prove his allegations that airport crash services are “grossly mismanaged’’ and that it' is the Minister’s tautt. “If Mr McKenzie can prove his allegations he is welcome to see me in my office and have no more of this charge and countercharge in the newspapers,”. Mr McLachlan said. He was referring to comments made by McMcKenziei

t|in “The Press” of Saturday. A, .; senior official of the Minis-1 !try was said to have trav-i ' elled to Nelson to tell the; s I senior fire officer that crash h . firemen might be transferred!) - out of Nelson if they did not: i accept a one-man shift. -! Mr McLachlan said that. ; Mr McKenzie had denied i there had been threats; i against local volunteers by;' ; the P.S.A. or Engineers’,: Union. j 1 “But at the same time heli • renews them by his sinister 11 ’’reference to blacklegji labour.” Mr McLachlan said, h “Mr McKenzie does not!’ Hneed to talk personally toic

,the auxiliaries at Nelson I when his every statement is; 'reported in the press and his I colleague from the Engin-j leers’ Union can apply the] Ipressure tor him. : "I am satisfied that Mr I McKenzie will have little 'further to do with this 'issue,” Mr McLachlan said. “While threats remain his | way of handling problems, [they are certainly not employed by me. I recall he I has also in the past des- ; [cribed my Ministry as ]devious — and if he can; j prove that I would again I 'welcome him to my office to! do so,” Mr McLachlan said.