MINISTERS SPEAK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 144, 21 June 1939, Page 12

MINISTERS SPEAK.

NAVY ADDRESSED.

" DECISION JEOPARDISED."

HEN'S ACTION CONDEMNED. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. .Jones, and the Minister of Health and Marine, the Hon. P. Kraeer, accompanied by the Commodore commanding the New Zealand Naval Station, Commodore J. \V. Ilivett-Carnae, arrived by the Limited express from Wellington this morning. This was the result of a visit paid to Wellington by the Commodore and other high naval officers following the lunch-hour 'meeting of protest on Monday, when the New Zealand lower deck ratings of H.M.S. Leander, Achillas and Philomel, expressed dissatisfaction at the present rates of pay. When the two Ministers arrived they went to the Station Hotel and afterwards proceeded to the Devonport Naval Base and throughout the whole of the morning discussed with the Commodore and other officers the trouble that had arisen. They lunched on board H.M.S. Leander with the Commodore and returned to the'city early in the afternoon.

Ratings with wives and families welcome the announcement by the Government concerning increased allowances for ratings' wives and children. No specific request was made for an advance in these rati *. although it was contended that they should l>e assessed quarterly in order to meet thi» increased costs of living as they occurred. Imperial ratings receive t'u> same scalp of pay ns Vow Zealand intings wliil" on loan »<> the N>w /-aland Srpiulron. They arc liable to the sume ta\es, a* all ratings arc paid ltv the Government, In every case the rates are flight ly higher than those of the Royal Navy anil men attached to other naval stations. The present marriage allowance in the Royal Navy is 17/ a week, so that the new allowance in the New Zealand Squadron will show an increase on that figure of 3/. The child allowance in the Royal Navy is 5/ a week for the first child and 3/ for the second. 2/ for the third and 1/ a weeß for, all other children. With an allowance of 5/ in the case of every child, the average amount received by the New Zealand ratings with families will again be higher than the rate in the Royal Navy. Ministers' Addresses. Both Minister* addressed the officers and members of the ships' companies of H.M.S. Leander, Achilles and Philomel during their visit to the base. It wae pointed out by both speakers that representations through the officers and the Commodore had been forwarded to the Government in respect to pay and allowances, particularly those of married men. Those representations had received careful and eymjjathetic consideration and a decision had been arrived at by the Government to increase the allowances to wives and families of ratings.

"This decision wee placed in jeopardy ae the result of the action of a section of the men In meeting together and formulating certain demands and threats," said the Minister. In epite of this unfortunate occurrence the Government had approved of the proposals submitted by the Minister of Defence which had previously been decided upon «nd which would prove of considerable benefit to the married men. Will Not Be Influenced. Both Ministers made it plain to the men that while the Government would not be influenced in the slightest by any threatening demands or actions, it was prepared at all times to give sympathetic consideration to representations put forward in the usual way. The men were also informed that the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, had already announced that inquiries were being made into the pay and allowances of the men. The investi-, gation would proceed as expeditiouely a* possible. In the event of any unavoidable delay endeavours would be made to make any possible increases decided upon ae the result of the inquiry retrospective in the customary way. Subsequently, an announcement was. made by the Minister of Defence that after consultation with the Prime Minister it had been decided that any adjustments of pay agreed upon would be made retrospective to June 1, the date on which the new scale would operate in respect to wives and family allowances. (See Prime Minister's Statement, page C).