Govt move ‘dirty’

Press, 21 November 1981, Page 1

Govt move ‘dirty’

The Government’s refusal to grant work permits to the British aircrew of Skybus has been attacked by both Opposition parties. Labour's spokesman bn Civil Aviation. Mr John Kirk, described the move as “a dirty trick." He said that the Minister

of Immigration (Mr Malcolm) knew months ago that he could not approve the’ work permits, especially at a time when Air New Zealand pilots were under-employed* and 50 DCB technical crew were about to be "dumped.” "The Minister should have made public his feelings

months ago. but instead he ducked the issue.” Mr Kirk said Mr Malcolm should be held personally responsible for the needless loss of Aqua Avia Society members' dues which he allowed to be spent on what amounted to “a fool’s error.”

Social Credit’s South Island vice-president, Mr J. A. Wright, said that the latest manoeuvrings showed “a total disregard for the public of New" Zealand,” which would cost the National Party dearly in the election.

“We have a Government which pays lip-service toprivate enterprise. . using every bureaucratic trick in the book- to thwart a group whose principles are those supposedly held dear to the National Party:” -

He described as repugnant the manner in which the Government had “cold-blood-edly allowed thousands of New Zealanders to invest money in a project it knew it would never let proceed.” .