ORDERS DISOBEYED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 138, 6 March 1936, Page 12

ORDERS DISOBEYED

Trouble on H.M.S. Dunedin SEAMEN’S GRIEVANCE By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, March 5. Rumours that trouble had broken out on H.M.S. Dunedin, at present at Bluff, were circulated iu Invercargill to-day. On inquiry it was learned that the seamen on duly resented the method of deciding which watch should take a certain duty. A “make or mend” competition was held, more in the nature of n race between watciies, and the winning watch was given shore leave and the loser was called upon to do certain duly. This apparently did not meet with the approval of the seamen, and when the time camo Io begin tlie watch they failed to report. This action, amounting to disobedience of ship's orders, was responsible for an inquiry. The grievances were ventilated and the matter was cleared up.

In a statement to the press, Commodore the lion. E. R. Drummond said that there had been a little trouble with the seamen section of the crew, but that it all boiled down to disobedience of ship’s orders. Only seamen were implicated ; some of them apparently had not approved of the method of deciding tlie watch. There had been a misunderstanding and the inquiry had cleared it up. Asked if there was any truth in a rumour about the ship putting to sea immediately as a result of the incident the commodore said “No.” lie added that the ship was carrying out its ordinary daily routine.