Plea for tunnel staff

Press, 27 January 1979, Page 6

Plea for tunnel staff

A plea for the Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan) and the Minister of Works and Development (Mr W. L. Young) to ensure that some staff are retained at the Lyt-| telton road tunnel was made yesterday by the member of Parliament for Lyttelton (Mrs Ann Hercus). Mrs Hercus sent telegrams to the two Ministers expressing her concern for the unknown fate of. many of the tunnel staff, who, “eight 'weeks before the tunnel is due to become toll-free, have ; no idea if they have a job or ‘with whom.” , : Mrs Hercus urged tne [Ministers to accept the pnn- ! ciple that in the pubic i interest tunnel staff should 'be retained for obvious safe!ty reasons. . ...I ! ’ “I hope the Ministers will .accept that the tunnel will i not run itself, nor can it be 'run safely or efficiently by j staff situated in some Gov-. • eminent department miles’ [away,” said Mrs Hercus. ; “I also hope that the Mini isters accept their responsibilitv to do something urgently to ease the very real distress felt bv manv of the ■ long-serving staff members who have been waiting in a vacuum for months for some decisions to be made about their future.”