N.Z. CORONATION CONTINGENT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27011, 10 April 1953, Page 10

N.Z. CORONATION CONTINGENT

COMPLAINT BY MEN ABOARD SYDNEY MINISTER CALLS FOR REPORT (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 9. Former servicemen in the New Zealand Coronation contingent on the way to England complain that in addition to drill, which they expected, they have to work four hours a day cleaning latrines, scrubbing decks, and chipping paint No working clothes are provided. The complaint is made in a letter written by Sergeant J. D. Hinton, V.C., and signed by 28 members of the contingent. Sergeant Hinton was writing from the Australian aircraftcarrier Sydney. The letter was sent to Mr A. P. Postlewaite, president of the Auckland Returned Services’ Association, and he has forwarded it to Sir Howard Kippenberger, president of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association, to take up with the Government. Sergeant Hinton says that the men had been led to expect full leave at ports, but at each port one-third of the contingent has had to stay aboard for fatigues. He adds that as leave in the United Kingdom has now been reduced to a fortnight, an attractive feature of the trip has been whittled down. He thinks work done on board is equivalent to working a passage and that it is certainly worth more than the 15s a day those on the basic rate receive. Sergeant Hinton also says that members of the Australian Returned Services’ League contingent get their full previous service rates, and in the case of the Royal Australian Air Force full group pay (for wireless operators and I electricians). This means that New Zealanders are working alongside men receiving up to £3 a day. He says that the ship is overcrowded and amenities are at a minimum. Seamen, with high rates of pay, supplement meals from the ship’s canteen, run by a private company. Contingent pay restricts the purchase of extras. When they arrive at London former Royal New Zealand Air Force members intend to make a strong request that other transport be provided for their return and that those affected get group pay.

Action By Minister • When Sergeant Hinton’s letter was referred today to the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald), he asked the Chief of the General Staff (MajorGeneral W. G. Gentry) to communi-' cate immediately with the Officer Commanding the New Zealand Coronation contingent and obtain from him a report on the positiqn. “It will be realised that the New Zealand contingent. is in an Australian ship, which is carrying members of the Australian contingent also,” said the Minister. “It would seem unlikely that New Zealanders are singled out for duties additional to those performed by the Australians. “However, when a is received from the O.C. of the New Zealand contingent a further statement will be made.” “There will be no comment from us before next Tuesday and possibly not even then,” said Sir Howard Kippenberger today. “Before we do anything we will need a lot more than one letter to go on.”