Airlift rescues stranded ferry passengers, cars

Press, 25 September 1980, Page 3

Airlift rescues stranded ferry passengers, cars

PA Wellington The Government yesterday swung Operation Pluto into action to ferry passengers and cars across Cook Strait while the inter-island rail ferries are strike bound. A special Cabinet committee, headed by the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys) decided to call in the Royal New Zealand Air Force to ferry private vehicles across the strait in the wake of the seamen’s decision to strike until today. The seamens action is part of a concerted port union’s rolling protest against the presence in Wellington harbour of the American nuclear-powered frigate Truxtun. The Air Force is on standby to continue a shuttle service between Wellington and Blenheim today should ferry sailings be cancelled. There are two sailing scheduled from Wellington today, at 10 a.m. and 6.40 p.m. with return trips from Picton at 2.20 p.m. and 10.40 pan. "The Government has made this decision in re-

sponse to the quite irresponsible action of some unions, which will have the. effect only of inconveniencing the public at a cost to the taxpayer and themselves,” Mr Taiboys said. The airlift, which began yesterday afternoon, gave priority to cases where there were special compassionate grounds or exceptional circumstances. However, those availing themselves of the Air’ Force service will have to pay almost double the rail fares. A spokesman from the Minister of Transport’s office said he believed the- rate would probably be the standard fare plus a 60 per cent surcharge. Mr Taiboys said the Air Force would be used to carry passengers who were not accompanied by cars only when all civil capacity was used to the maximum, and would be simply a backup to other licensed carriers. The Railways Department would determine priorities, Mr Taiboys said. Vehicles

and passengers would be loaded from the Government hangar at Wellington and Blenheim airports. "Intending passengers travelling from the North Island should report to the rail ferry terminal at Wellington, and in the South Island intending passengers should report to the railwaystation at Blenheim,” Mr Taiboys said. John and Dorothy Godtrey left Ashhurst about 4 a.m. yesterday for the 7.20 a.m. sailing of the Aratika and then on to Diamond Harbour, near Lyttelton. Their daughter, a nurse, was with them. The Aratika did not sail. Neither did the Aranui, due to leave at 10 a.m. Neither ship, due to make a double return crossing from Wellington to Picton, had any seamen. Seamen’s Union members met yesterday morning and then went home for the day in protest against the presence of the Truxtun. The Godfreys went home.

“What the hell else can we do?” Mr Godfrey asked. Mr and Mrs Godfrey, their car and trailer, were among about 20 vehicles waiting for a crossing. “I have a lot of sympathy for the people who are taking this action over the Truxtun. Everybody has got a right to their opinion.” Mr Godfrey said. "The problem is that the Government just won’t listen to the people of this country. It will not listen — we would not have these problems if they did,” he said. Mr Cecil Kitto and his wife had expected to return to Tarras, near Cromwell, crossing in the Aratika yesterday. They had been on holiday in Auckland. The Kittos had to be back at their jobs tomorrow. They were willing to pay the extra if an Operation Pluto aircraft could get them back on the "mainland.” About the Truxtun? Mrs Kitto said: "We might nead her one day.”