Minister attacks Labour criticism

Press, 29 April 1981, Page 6

Minister attacks Labour criticism

■ PA Wellington An accusation that the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) was attempting to make political capital out of the report of.,the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Mount Erebus disaster was made by the Minister ofTransport (Mr McLachlan) yesterday, "Our most urgent priority is to, study the ramifications of the report and to take .‘ action where it is shown to.' .be ' said Mr McLachlan. ; “Mr Rowling must surely ■ be aware that I have already called for a report from the Secretary for Transport. “Until'now we have man- . aged to keep this disaster out of the field of politics, and I feel ttet the nation can be served best .if we look at where- we can make uh-' provements in air safety rather, than issue statements which appear to be aimed more at the election camSM £ feP oes “Mr Rowling claims that I have been negligent. He

should state clearly anc concisely just where he considers I have been negligent. “He also criticises me for going off to discuss ■ airline safety overseas. Surely he cannot be suggesting that we should not consult acknowledged expert bodies such as the National Transportation Safety Roarer of the United States- and the International Civil 'Aviation Organisation., “I would indeed be negligent in my duties if I did not _seek this advice. I will .leave no stone unturned to ensure that Air New Zealand’s reputation as one of the safest airlines in the world is quickly reinforced,” said Mr McLachlan. The Labour Party yesterday repeated calls for the resignation of Air New Zealand’s chief executive, Mr M. R. . .Davis, and executives slated in the report of the Commission of -Inquiry into the Mount Erebus disaster. Mr’ Rowling said that if they remained when Labour tions —i “We’ll act and with some expedition.”

id It was criminal that staff i- of the airline should be subject to the kind of pressures ir they were under, he said. p A Social Credit spokesman, p Mr Jeremy Dwyer, said the f -failure of either members of ‘ the Government of its politi- ® cal appointees to the board j of Air New Zealand to take ? any degree of responsibility 11 for the airline’s administra- • five inefficiencies underlined ’ the need for bn overhaul of gthe -existing system. e He said that as the airline -.' was Government-owned it t was surely incumbent on s those responsible for the adr ministration of it as a public facility to take ultimate re- - sponsi'bility for its manage- ; ment. Mr Dwyer said Social ’ Credit would wish to see the ’ airline made accountable to : Parliament through changes in existing legislation. E Such a move would enable ■ Parliament to exercise a del. gree. of. scrutiny over the • airline which ;it was not i -possible for Parliamentarians to do at present, he said.