PREPARATIONS FOR RELEASE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 8

PREPARATIONS FOR RELEASE

ABOUT 400 MEN INVOLVED

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept 19. Steps to release about 400 men from the Royal New Zealand Air Force began at three Auckland stations to-day Many of the men who had been on strike since Tuesday for a 40-hour five-day week declined either to return to work or to accept the offer from the Air Department of termination of their engagement Although certain formalities had been completed to-night the men in general were declining to undertake clearance formalities, and some* announced their intention of remaining on their stations until representations made to the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) had been answered. No clearances were completed to-day/ Instructions that airmen who refused to work or to hand in their names for release were nevertheless to be re-

leased by station commanders were received from the Air Department in the afternoon. The department has authorised station commanders to select those whom they consider suitable for retention. The administrative staffs at Whenua*pai, Hobsonville. and *Bay immediately began checking and preparations were made to pay airmen, accept their kit, and send them ©n leave for seven days. It was £ tanned to have them examled and X-rayed later. At stations where the strikers refused to hand in their names for release, and where it was necessary to Invoke the special authority to release them, the administrative staffs were kept particularly busy because of the complicated position. A definite statement of the numbers involved was not available to-night. It was believed, however, that at Whenuapai there would be a maximum of 195 releases from the station strength of 570, with the possibility that by to-morrow morning some of the men might have changed their minds. Hobsonville expected less than 10C releases out of 320 all ranks, and at Mechanics Bay there were signs that 100 men from the station strength of 375 would be released. Group Captain C. C» Hunter, speaking as senior Air Force officer in Auckland, said many of the airmen to be released were recent enlistments, there being a smaller number of men who had seen service during the war. No Waafs had sought release.. The following telegram was sent to Mr Jones by the strikers at Mechanics Bay:—“The Air Department is attempting to force airmen into resigning from the service. Mechanics Bay airmen request and demand your presence. and an explanation why men were lured into the service under false pretences. With regard to Air Commodore Wallingford, Mechanics Bay airmen were not given a chance to see ©r hear him. If no satisfactory explanation is forthcoming the position will remain as it has been over the last two days.”