Staff concessions on airline

Press, 20 February 1980, Page 22

Staff concessions on airline

Sir, — I was not at all surprised to hear of Air New Zealand’s $lO million loss for 1979. I recently travelled to Auckland on an early morning flight in which every seat was taken. I had a very pleasant trip, sitting next to a gentleman and you can imagine my surprise when he said, as we were leaving the aircraft. “There wasn’t much profit for Air New Zealand on that flight.” He explained that most of the seats were occupied by Air New Zealand staff going, to a reunion.- I began to. wonder “Why should I pay for this charming fellow, and all his friends to travel at a 10 per cent fare?” To what extent does the New Zealand public subsidise travel by Air New Zealand employees? There is no doubt that sacking 500 middle-management employees would restore profitability; but is it really necessary? Why not just charge everyone full fare? — Yours, ptr C. L. McLAY. February 1, 1980. [Mr John Berry, public affairs manager for Air New Zealand, replies: “Because your correspondent does not provide either the number or the date of the flight concerned we are unable to check the accuracy of his statement or the circumstances of the staff travel. For that reason we feel unable to provide a meaningful response.”]

Chiropractic report Sir, —- As one of the illinformed public minority referred to by Mrs G. Wood, president, Society of Physiotherapists, and spoken in conjunction with Dr .W. Pryor at their annual conference, I reserve the right to be heard and respected. The only fragile foundation that New Zealand possesses is its complacent adherence to traditional approaches which emphasise the decade-lag awareness of alternative health holistic modes which gain recognition and appreciation overseas. Having sampled the treatment in both places and being a delightedly well beneficiary comparing more than favourably with my 30-year pill-popping prelude consistent with the average medical approach toward body disease, I hereby graciously accept the minority tag. — Yours, etc., MERE SMITH, Diamond Harbour. February 18, 1980.