In brief

Press, 17 December 1988, Page 9

In brief

Nurses vote to strike Private hospital nurses have voted overwhelmingly to strike, the national secretary of the Nurses’ Union, Steph Breen said yesterday. Union organisers have held stopwork meetings throughout the country since private hospital award talks broke down in November. Further stopwork meetings will continue next week and after the Christmas break.—PA. Acid leak in Riccarton A leaking 200-litre drum of nitric acid prompted a Fire Service call-out to Transpac Holdings, Ltd, in Upper Riccarton, last evening. The acid was reported to be reacting and letting off fumes. Two firemen donned breathing apparatus and splash suits to decant the acid into another container. The call was received at 9.15 p.m. to the company’s premises at the corner of Lunns Road and Curletts Road. Billy T. recovering The entertainer, Billy T. James is expected to be removed today from the intensive care unit at Green Lane Hospital, in Auckland, where he underwent major heart surgery. James, aged 38, underwent a quadruple heart bypass operation on Monday. Last night he was swapping joke with nurses, his surgeon, Mr Alan Kerr, said. “His heart was seriously affected, but his condition is now improving. He now needs solid rest for a couple of days.” James spent five days in North Shore Hospital in August after suffering a mild heart attack.— PA. Five people injured Five people received minor injuries when the car they were travelling in and another vehicle collided at the Blenheim Road-Matipo Street intersection at 5.30 p.m. yesterday. The two adults and three children were treated at Christchurch Hospital and discharged.