ARRIVAL OF ANDES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24712, 1 November 1945, Page 4

ARRIVAL OF ANDES

DELAY DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY TO QUESTION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Octdber'3l A denial that .the delay in the recent arrival of the Andes was due to the unwillingness of watersiders to work the vessel on Labour Day or a Sunday was given .in the House of Representa-* tives this afternoon during discussion on Ministerial replies to questions. Mr i C j dd ( Opposition, Waitaki) had asked the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) whether the Government would set up a special committee to inquire into the reported griev-' of servicemen who returned in the Andes, and who Wsre reported to have been required to spend two needless extra days crossing the Tasman in order not to arrive in New Zealand on Sunday or a public holiday. Mr Fraser replied that as a report on the subject of the delay of -the Andes had been supplied to the Government by the responsible authorities, it was not proposed to set up any committee. This report stated that disembarkation arrangements were made on the" understanding that the vessel would remain in Melbourne 48 ! hours, but she left Melbourne a day earlier than anticipated. It was decided, In view of the inconvenience that would be caused to next-of-kin. travelling to meet the returning servicemen, to adhere to the date fixed originally, rather than alter the entire transportation programme at the la'st moment. It was the express wish of the Government that there should be no delay- in the journey back to ' New Zealand of returning servicemen, and that, in spite of the difficult circumstances, everything possible should be done to expedite the arrival and disembarkation of men in New Zealand. Mr Kidd said the reply was not very satisfactory. The vessel, which.had put up a record when bringing the troops from England ±o Australia, was required to spend two extra days at sea crossing the Tasman in order hot to I arrive on Sunday or a public holiday.

"Rather a Lame Excuse" If a delay were necessary, it would nave been better for the Andes to remain in Melbourne, where the men could have gone ashore lor some relaxation. The excuse given was rather a lame one. He was sure next-of-kin would have preferred to be inconvenienced rather than have the men delayed. He trusted no similar event would occur with further returning drafts. Mr T. H. McCombs (Government, Lyttelton) said everyone would naturally be grateful if returning-men could be brought back more quickly. However, on at least two occasions when the men did arrive ahead of schedule —once in the Wairarapa and once in Canterbury—the newspapers had declared it was a piece of Army bungling. Mr McCombs said >a rumour had gained currency among the men in the Andes that the delay was because the watersiders would not handle the ship on Sunday or a holiday. That rumour, whoever was resppnsible for it, was completely without foundation. Watersiders were not required to work the Andes, because the Navy handled the vessel. Had watersiders been required they would have" been available. On both.the Sunday and Labour Day, watersiders were working vessels at Lyttelton, and the few additional men needed for the Andes would readily have been available had they been required. He" regretted very much that somebody saw fit to make capital out of the situation by attributing the delay to watersiders. Mr F. Langstorie (Government, Waimarino): Anti-Labour political propaganda. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomd) said next-of-kin received a circular, dated October 10, indicating that the Andes would arrive on approximately October 21. Men in the Andes were given leave tickets dating from October 22, so it was clearly understood that they would arrive on Sunday October 21. The written reply was not very satisfactory, and was not | in accordance with the tacts. The men had a grievance. What Mr McCombs said might be correct, but was 'no excuse for keeping men on the ocean an extra two days. Mr Langstone- said anti-Labour propaganda had been used. It was a question'Of again belting the worker. by suggesting that watersiders would not work the ship, but the workers saw through the guise of the National Party. Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford) said it was humbug to suggest that baseless rumours had been started by the National Party. The rumour, if there was one, had been started-on the ship itself by a placard being displayed from the ship's side, with a jocular reference, printed in large letters, to a hold-up on account of Labour Day. No one from the National Party would suggest the hold-up was due to the waterside workers. Minister's Explanation

The Minister of Defence. Cthe Hon. F. Jones) said some New Zealanders who had reached Australia by other vessels were to be transferred to the Andes in Melbourne, and the transfer took only half the time expected, enabling .the Andes to sail earlier from Melbourne. On the Friday before Labour Day word was received that the Andes bad left for New Zealand, and was due to arrive at Lyttelton on October 23. If there had been any alteration in -the itinerary next-of-kin, lccal bodies, and others who had been advised of the arrival would have had to make new arrangements, and with the holiday' week-end intervening, some next-of-kin would not have arrived. It was therefore considered better to.slow up the ship and adhere to the actual day that had been notified. Whether that was a wise decision or not was difficult to say, but there was a certain amount of reason in it when the arrangements people made to meet their returning relatives were considered. He could understand the feeling of resentment among the men,' but he thought there was a good deal of reason for what the service authorities had done. It might have been better if the men had been allowed another, day in Melbourne, or if the ship had called at Hobart. • % Mr Fraser expressed regret that the delay had occurred, but said he would not make reflection's on those who made the decision. He did not know why the men were not allowed two days in Melbourne. As to the inconvenience of next-of-kin, he was afraid he would have caused that inconvenience. Had he been on board in the circumstances his temper would not have been very angelic when he reached the wharf. The Government sought to have the men brought back as speedily as possible.