Sharp response to Air N.Z. head

Press, 6 October 1980, Page 4

Sharp response to Air N.Z. head

By

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor. Air New Zealand’s chairman, Mr C. W. Mace, has Upset the Minister of Tourism (Mr Cooper)., by his Statement on Saturday that “constant and carping criticism from the political, arena”-was adversely affect-; Ing the airline. Mr Mace had asserted that his company's actions were being distorted for “personal political gain and prestige.” I (A condensed version of hisi four-page statement appear-: cd on page 2 of “The Press” Df Saturday). Mr Cooper wasted no time |n taking Mr Mace to task.! “This one really annoys; pie,” he said, in the keynote! nddress to the travel agents’! convention at Invercargill on! Saturday morning. “The Government has! fought day in and day out to! make decisions in favour of. Air New Zealand,” Mr Cooper said. I

I "We have just approved, S4OO million worth of Boeings to give us our| export security, and to ; ensure we can get people into and out of this country. “I have been up in the House at least six times • recently, defending Air New i Zealand to the best of my ■ ability. Norman Jones (who 1 was at the conference) has' been on his feet defending Air New Zealand, and thei Prime Minister (Mr Mul-i Moon) has done the same. ■ “Now we are told that poli-| jtics are threatening the airline. But the simple fact is! I that too many directors ap-i pointed to business in New: iZealand are too ambivalent: ;about their criticisms, and: i they will not name names,” isaid Mr Cooper. i “Mr Mace has done us a disservice, because he should have said that John Kirk is trying to- put Air New Zealand on to the tarmac in- ! stead of into the air. He ’should also have said that

I the Leader of the Opposition ' (Mr Rowling) is identifying strongly with John Kirk in > rubbishing the airline. : “I believe Air New Zealand is a fine airline,” said ■ Mr Cooper. “It has gone ; through a particularly diffi- ' cult stage, and I completely ■ resent being told that all poli- > ticians are trying to put it down. I know 50 members ;!of Parliament who have i given the airline their total ■ and untiring support. i “Mr Mace should put his ■ message right,” he said. • (In his statement on Saturday, Mr Mace qualified his ■ reference to the “political ■; arena” by saying that lie : was saddened by the attitude of “some prominent New Zealanders, in whom I believe we are entitled to ! expect a great deal more statesman-like qualities . . Mr Mace did not imply that he was criticising all politicians.)