Promise to consult rescue, fire services

Press, 29 May 1985, Page 3

Promise to consult rescue, fire services

PA Wellington The Government will consult members of rescue and fire services at airports before any decision is made on their future, said the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, yesterday. Speaking after meeting a delegation from the Public Service Association, Mr Prebble said no decision had been made about the services. He could not give a date for a decision as a range ol issues needed to be considered. A report on rescue anc fire services presented lasi year had recommended the axeing of the services al airports without international flights. However Mr Prebble said the reporl

it r- would not form the basis of r, a Government decision. •t “If you are going to con-

suit you must consult without preconditions,” he said. The P.S.A.’s president, Mr Colin Hicks, who led the delegation, said he was pleased with the outcome of the 80-minute meeting. There was general agreement that the proper process of consultation had not been followed, he said. The Opposition spokesman on transport, Mr Winston Peters, said Mr Prebble had had ample time for consultation. He said he believed the recommendation to end rescue and fire services would be acted on and that the first airport to be hit would be Timaru. He expected a decision soon after the Timaru byelection.