MAINTENANCE OF SERVICES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24983, 18 September 1946, Page 6

MAINTENANCE OF SERVICES

MEN’S ATTITUDE EXPLAINED

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. IT With the airmen’s strike unsettled to-night, prospects of maintaining tomorrow the internal air services operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force for the National Airways Corporation were undecided. The services ran normally to-day in spite of the strike, but it was not known late to-night whether it would be possible to complete the essential daily inspection of the aircraft in time for it to fly to southern centres to-morrow. The north-bound aircraft will be inspected by civilian contractors at Harewood. Other services operating from Whenuapai are not immediately concerned. The usual weekly run to Japan was begun to-day by one of No. 41 Squadron’s Dakotas, and the islands service of No. 40 Squadron leaves Whenuapai on a Monday. Although essential services were maintained at the three Air Force stations in Auckland, and there was no disorder, the stoppage of work has marked by a number of incidents requiring tactful handling. This was particularly marked at Whenuapai, where the largest number of men was concerned, and where the problem of meals brought the threat of a difficult situation at one stage. The airmen at Whenuapai were advised several times during the day by different senior officers to resume duty. The response was negligible. Most services vital to the functioning of a station were manned at all stations. These included the signals, flying control, hospital, and meteorological services, but at Whenuapai the crash tender crew did not turn out, and the vehicle was manned by a volunteer crew under the firemaster. A spokesman of the men said tonight that the airmen were quite determined to remain on strike until they were given a 40-hour week. “The men feel they have been coping with the work of the station on a 40-hour week quite satisfactorily up to now, and they see no reason why they should have to begin working on Saturday mornings,” said the spokesman. “We have no objection to colourhoisting and ceremonial drill parades on principle, but feel it is unfair that time taken up during the week with these activities should be made up with Saturday morning duty. We would far rather sacrifice the Wednesday sports period for a free week-end.”

Saturday’ morning work was a needless imposition on the men, the spokesman continued, as all that was to be done by the majority was cleaning up for inspection. A special detail of airmen had in the past carried on very successfully with all maintenance work required to be done on Saturdays.