Lighthouse strike looms

Press, 22 July 1980, Page 6

Lighthouse strike looms

PA '■ Wellington Lighthouse keepers threaten to turn off their lights -and foghorns to supportStheir call for an inquiry into, the automation and defnaririfng of the; lighthouse service. ’ They have also reimposed their'ban on weather reporting, says the Public Service Association’s president (Mr D.. H. Thorp). The Weather reporting ban starts today, and automatic equipment at East Cape and Farewell Spit will be disconnected. Lights and foghorns will be turned off from August 18. The keepers say the ban will be lifted as soon as the P.S.A., is advised by the Government that an inquiry will be held, and that demanning anil , automation will stop juptii the inquiry has made it's.’.re’commendation. ■At Parliament last week, the . lighthouse keepers andj fKe>P.S.A. repeated requests! for a public inquiry into the decisiop to automate New!

Zealand’s remaining 17 manned lights by 1986. The P.S.A. wanted the hearing to receive submissions from the maritime uniqns and the Federation of Commercial Fishermen. It also wanted automation to stop until the inquiry had made its recommendations. This was rejected and, instead, the Government suggested a meeting with the State Services Commission and other interested Government departments. Effects on shipping will not be serious if New Zealand’s 17 lighthouse keepers stop manning their lights, according to the Ministry of Transport Controller of Lighthouses, Captain S. Davies. “We will still have our 113 automatic lights and ships can also rely on radio beacons and their radar,” he said yesterday. “All over the world countries are taking advantage of advances in modern technology to automate their lighthouses,” Captain Davies said. “Automatic lights are

i more reliable — keepers are I unfortunately the victims of i the wheel of progress.” I While New Zealand was i phasing in the automation of i its remaining manned lights |over an eight-year period, other countries were being more precipitate. “In Sweden they have dismissed 450 men in five years.” Australia, between 1979 and 1984, was automating 17 manned lighthouses and talking about relocating 36 people. Of the 17 New Zealand keepers affected, three would have retired during the eightyear automation programme and, on experience, another three would leave the service for a job elsewhere. “This would leave only 11 to be relocated: it does not seem a great number over eight years,” said Captain Davies. The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said yesterday that threats of lighthouse keepers to turn off their beacons would be “most irresponsible.”