Travel editor criticised

Press, 5 June 1982, Page 3

Travel editor criticised

.Parliamentary reporter The travel editor of "The Press" was trying to create mischief by comparing staff numbers at the time of the merger of the National Airways Corporation and Air New Zealand with today's, said the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) yesterday. A report by the travel editor. Les Bloxham. in “The Press" yesterday catalogued rises and falls in staff levels at the time of the merger and after, and conflicting statements the airline ’"and others’" over that period, on staff cuts. The ■ report said that the Prime Minister had speculated on December 15, 1977, that the proposed merger would save a net amount of $lO million a year. Mr Muldoon said that a study last year showed that ■the savings achieved were about $l3 million a year. At the time of the merger of Air New Zealand and N.A.C. on April 1, 1978, the combined staff numbered 8717. In April, 1979, staff rose to 8744. and in April, 1980, reached a peak of 8981, he said. Since then there had been a gradual decline to 8798 in April, 1981. and 8172 in April this year.

Since then the airline had subsequently outlined its policy on staff numbers for the coming months. “The travel editor of ‘The Press’ misunderstands the financial position of Air. New Zealand,’’ Mr Muldoon said. "Its position today reflects the rapidly deteriorating climate in which many airlines round the world have found themselves.” Lex Bloxham comments: Rather than creating “mischief,” as the Prime Minister alleges, the inclusion of staff numbers in the article was intended to show that there are now 700 fewer employees on the airline’s payroll than at the time of the merger four years ago. It must follow that such a reduction has produced worth-while savings. Furthermore, the article included in its selection of comments a belief by the former general manager of N.A.C., Mr- D. A.. Patterson. that had the merger not occurred the Corporation could still be facing the same problem (and contemplating the same remedial measures) in the domestic division, as Air New Zealand is facing today. According to a press statement by the airline's chief executive, Mr N. M. T. Geary, on Wednesday, the number of employees in April this year was 8018; not 8172 as asserted by Mr Muldoon.