TREATMENT IN NAVY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 138, 7 March 1929, Page 10

TREATMENT IN NAVY

CONCESSIONS TO WIVES OF OF OFFICERS ALLEGED PART T ALITY Dominion Special Sekvjce. Dunedin, March 6. What appears to be partiality in treatment in the New Zealand Division of the Navy was brought under the notice of Mr. J. W. Munro, M.P., recently, and he promised to make full inquiries with the object of obtaining a similar concession for the New Zealand ratings. It was pointed out to Mr. Munro that the wives of officers, mostly English, on the ships of the New Zealand Navy were given free railway passes to enable them to travel in New Zealand to the ports at which their husband’s ships are located. The sailors and the petty officers, however, are unable to obtain similar concessions for their wives, whom they see very infrequently. At least a reduction in the full railway fares now charged was asked for. From representations made by the person who approached Mr. Munro, the New Zealanders on the vessels are dissatisfied that the concession should be given to only a few servants of the Government. The men felt that as they were absent from their home ports for extended periods, and yet located at other ports for weeks at a time, their wives should be given the same facilities as the wives of officers, particularly as their pay could not be compared with that of the officers. It is felt by the men that the cost of travelling for their wives is a heavy drain on their pay. Mr. Munro suggested that perhaps the naval authorities were against the ratings marrying, but it was stated in reply that extra pay was given to the married men, while provision was also made for children.