Offensive sign?

Press, 3 April 1980, Page 12

Offensive sign?

A sign at Christchurch Airport that might be taken as a sign of racial discrimination will be changed in the new international arrivals terminal. Passengers who will not be going through a baggage check are directed to the white lane. Airport officers have told councillors that the possible connotations had been pointed out, and the through channel will get another colour. In spite of criticism by Cr Vicki Buck about processing still being slow in the terminal, members of

the Christchurch City Council’s public utilities committee were told that time had been reduced substantially. In 1978, loads of up to 200 people could take 50 minutes; the new average was 31min. Loads of from 200 to 400 passengers now took an average of 48min to process, compared with the 91min average in 1978. “But there are extreme circumstances, that is the concern,” said Cr R. Lester. “If they are one Customs official short, that is when we have the problem.” Cr R. A. Bamford said

he had been through the ’j new terminal four times as • a passenger, and had gone through a full search each time. That invariably happened to New Zealanders returning from overseas. But the new facility was “excellent, first-class,” he said, except for the, more i stringent rules for return- : ing New Zealanders. Cr Bamford said Customs officers “tended to do their best, even though they at times seem overzealous.”