Shipping head plans no major changes

Press, 5 March 1982, Page 23

Shipping head plans no major changes

PA Auckland The new chairman of the New Zealand Shipping Corporation, Mr H. L. Julian, will keep the line sailing in the same direction but he wants to “sharpen up on its course.” Mr Julian said he planned no big change in policy or direction but hoped to sharpen the line to make it more efficient and profitable. The close co-operation of maritime unions was a key element in the future of the line, he said. “The corporation has been a roaring success and I have no major or drastic changes planned. I am delighted with the new board and they have all expressed their total support,” he said. The Labour Party has demanded to know what qualities Mr Julian has for his new job — “apart from his friendship with the Prime Minister.” The Shadow Minister of

Transport, Mr R. AV. Prebble, objected to the “employment of a political crony in one of New Zealand’s most important "jobs.” In a. letter to the Minister of Transport (Mr Gair), he said “Labour is afraid that if political appointees are to dominate the Shipping Corporation board, as they have with Air New Zealand, then the Shipping Corporation will follow Air New Zealand into the ‘red.’ However, Mr Julian claims that Mr Prebble is out of line with his own party in criticising his appointment to the chair. Mr Julian said he had been approached by the Labour Party transport committee just before the election to see if he would work with a Labour Government, and had said yes. “Mr Prebble should check with his own transport committee before he says these things,” Mr Julian said. Mr Julian said he was not

appointed by Mr Muldoon but the matter was considered first and approved by the full Govenrment caucus. Mr Prebble had also suggested the appointment would create discord and lead to resignations among senior Shipping Corporation officials who had last year expressed concern about the appointment to the then Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan).