Indonesian Crew Walked Off Oranje At Singapore

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29336, 15 October 1960, Page 4

Indonesian Crew Walked Off Oranje At Singapore

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 14. Acting under orders from the Indonesian 1 Government that no more of their nationals were to serve on Dutch ships. 220 Indonesian members of the crew of the Oranje walked off the ship at Singapore at an hour’s notice. While frantic efforts were made to replace them with Malayans and Chinese from the port, passengers washed dishes, operated lifts, set tables, and cleaned cabins.

“Men who had been in the service of the company from generation to generation were crying all over the ship,” Captain J. HSchulting, master of fire Oranje, said on its arrival from Sydney today, "They were going back home where there are millions of

unemployed and where money is not worth the paper it is printed

According to Captain Schulting, the chief mandoer (the head man) and a union representative came to his cabin at 11 a.m„ on the day of the Oranje’s arrival "at Singapore, and said they ail had to leave the ship within an hour.

“By noon they were off the ship and their baggage picked up by six trucks on the wharf. “It was well organised and apparently they knew about leaving during the whole of the voyage, but kept -it a close secret,” said Captain Schulting. “There is only one Indonesian national left aboard the Oranje, but ak his family; is domiciled in Holland he decided to remain, as reprisals dannot be taken."

Captain Schulting said the other Indonesians were forced to leave under a threat that they would lose their nationality and also because of possible reprisals against their families. He said one big problem that developed over the men’s sudden move was that their entry into Singapore was illegal. The immigration authorities discussed the matter, but the Indonesians advised there was a small ship in the harbour that would have them, away within hours.

“You can see again how well it was organised,” said Captain Schulting. There-was no lack of response for the vacant jobs and Chinese and Malayans were almost fighting to get them, he said. Every man had to be medically examined and inoculated, but by midnight 158 had been signed on and the ship left Singapore an hour later.

The new members of the crew were totally inexperienced and many were seasick, but according to officers and passengers they adapted themselves quickly and efficiently.