U.S. fliers go to Noahs

Press, 4 October 1984, Page 1

U.S. fliers go to Noahs

Sixty-one United States servicemen visiting Christchurch for the Triad 84 military exercise have left their accommodation at the Wigram R.N.Z.A.F. base in favour of Noahs Hotel because of the cold and fears for their health. A New Zealand Ministry of Defence spokesman, Flight Lieutenant A. D. Haggitt, said that 88 United States servicemen arrived in Christchurch last Sunday and Monday and were allocated transit barrack accommodation at Wigram. Their accommodation had earlier been declared suitable during a plan-

ning visit for the exercise.

Flight Lieutenant Haggitt said that there was minimal heating in the barracks, which were due for refurbishing next year. The electrical wiring in the barracks could not stand the load of portable appliances and only the fitted heaters could be used. It had been decided almost immediately that some of the Americans would have to be moved to warmer accommodation, Flight Lieutenant Haggitt said, and Noahs was chosen because it was one of the few places that could ac-

commodate the 61 servicemen.

He said that minimum numbers of crew had been brought to Christchurch for the exercise and the risk of any being off duty sick with head colds had to be avoided.

Flight Lieutenant Haggitt said that head colds were a “real menace” to air crew and prevented them from flying.

The Americans had come from temperatures of 26deg. and 27deg. and the 6deg. that greeted them on arrival in Christchurch would have been a “pretty unpleasant experience,’’

Flight Lieutenant Haggitt said. “It was not considered we would have 6deg. ambient, temperature at this time of the year,” Flight Lieutenant Haggitt said of the exercise planning. “We were sorry it had to happen. The commander made the decision for health reasons and he was very sorry to be moving out,” he said. “It is one of those unfortunate things.” A spokesman for Noahs Hotel said last evening that the servicemen were booked into 30 twin rooms at the hotel. The rate for the twin

room, without meals, is $99 a night. The bill for the total stay will be about $30,000. The servicemen moved into the rooms on Monday and the spokesman said they were booked in for 11 nights. The party included three servicewomen. Some of the group will have to move out of Noahs and into the Clarendon Hotel on Sunday night because of heavy bookings at Noahs. Flight; Lieutenant Haggitt said there was no question that the New Zealand authorities would have to pay.