In brief

Press, 8 June 1989, Page 8

In brief

120 die in crash About 120 people died when a Surinam Airlines DCB jetliner crashed early today near the capital Paramaribo, the Surinam news agency SNA reported. SNA, monitored by the Dutch news agency ANP, said provisional counts put the death toll at around 120. Many others were seriously injured, it added. The ageing plane, carrying 173 passengers and nine crew, crash-landed in a flat area just short of Paramaribo’s Zanderij airport. Rescue work was under way and all doctors in the area had been summoned to help, SNA said. —NZPA-Reuter. Nurse aides reinstated Ten nurse aides at Trevellyn Home and Hospital in Hamilton, who were suspended on Tuesday for refusing to handle soiled bed linen, were reinstated yesterday. They were handed suspension notices after Tuesday’s day shift and were told they would not be allowed to return to work, unless they agreed to handle linen from beds to the washing unit. Early yesterday staff again refused normal duties and remained suspended, mounting a picket outside the Victoria Street institution. However, after discussions with the Nurses’ Union, Presbyterian Support Services’ management revoked the suspensions. The dispute will go to mediation in three weeks. Staff affected by the action were told they would not lose pay.—PA Loans to be restricted? The Housing Corporation may refuse mortgage loans for houses on high-density, cross-lease subdivisions, said the Minister of Housing, Ms Clark, yesterday. The corporation had a social and commercial responsibility to encourage the maintenance of housing standards. Ms Clark was aware of cross-lease subdivisions where “shrunken versions of a standard three bedroom house on a tiny section are arranged military fashion” in a bid to cut costs. “The Housing Corporation is seriously considering not making mortgage funds available for the purchase of houses in these types of high-density, cross-lease subdivisions,” she said.