Staff lay-offs

Press, 23 February 1987, Page 20

Staff lay-offs

Sir, —In a statement to “The Press” on February 13, Mr J. Bacon implies that C.W.F. Hamilton’s engineering works are in Hornby. This is not correct. They are situated in Lunns Road, Middleton. While the National Party nominee for Yaldhurst soundly condemns the present Government for the lay-offs, would.he kindly explain why the same firm had to adopt similar tactics in the mid-sixties, when National was the Government of the day? — Yours, etc.,

C. A. BREARS. February 16, 1987.

[Mr Bacon replies: “Although C. W. F. Hamilton is not in Hornby proper, a look at the map will show how close it is, so I suggest this is a quibbling point. Your correspondent seems to emulate the standard line of the present Government: do not answer the criticism but, instead, try to shi’ft the attention or the blame. It is confirmed that the contract cancellations causing the job losses at C. W. F. Hamilton are mainly due to the astronomical interest rates and an over-valued New Zealand dollar. And with zero economic growth, it is no wonder that jobs are being lost in Hornby and other parts of Christchurch. I suggest that your correspondent face up to the fact that this Government’s economic theories are not working.”]