Tunnel closing

Press, 2 April 1979, Page 18

Tunnel closing

Sir, —Why is it that every time the Wellington-Picton ferries decide to stop sailing, our R.N.Z.A.F. is ready and willing to fly stranded travellers across the strait? Yet the tunnel workers, with genuine grievances over redundancy, are forced by the police (with the help of the Army) to provide a service which I suggest is not as vital as our inter-island link. I say this because, if we could get to and from Lyttelton before the tunnel, a few days over the old route are not really going to hurt anyone. Then again, perhaps the Government would authorise the R.N.Z.A.F. to provide a helicopter service between Lyttelton and Heathcote. Until this present tunnel situation arose, I did not realise just how weak the Government really is to our, dare I say it, over-paid ferry workers, at times of industrial unrest.—Yours, etc., J. W. BAMFORD. Timaru. March 30, 1979. Sir, —Congratulations to those people who tried to defy the F.O.L. pawns at the tunnel today. I am only sorry that I did not join them to protest about the continued and stupid strikes that are being used as a show-of-strength in the lead-up to the F.O.L. elections in May. It may be a battle between Mr Cameron and Mr Knox, hut why do others have to be used and get hurt?—Yours, B. L. DENT, Lyttelton. March 30, 1979 Sir, —All lights in the tunnel were turned off. The bus drivers agreed to drive the buses and their freedom over the hill; to breach a picket line is taboo. In India they have sacred cows and sacred rats; in New Zealand ihey have sacred picket lines. I have no grudge against the tunnel workers getting all the money they want, but I do take exception to 11 workmen having the authority and power to close the Queen’s highway. — Yours, etc., J. LOGAN. Ashburton. March 29, 1979.