NAVAL RATINGS GRIEVANCE

Evening Star, Issue 20117, 6 March 1929, Page 2

NAVAL RATINGS GRIEVANCE

PARTIALITY TO OFFICERS' WIVES j. What appears to bo partiality inf 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 aim of obtaining a similar concession for the New Zealandratings. It aves pointed out to Mr Munro that ,iho wives of officers, mostly English, on the ships of the Ncav Zealand Navy, Avere given freo railway passes to enable them to travel in Now Zealand tr» the ports at which their husbands and the ships are located. The sailors and the petty officers, hoAvcver, are unable to obtain similar concessions for their Avives, Avhom they see very infrequently.. At least a reduction in the full railway fares uoav charged was asked for. From the representations made by the person Avho approached Mr Munro, the New Zealanders on the yessels are dissatisfied that the concession should be given to only a few of the 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 Aveeks at a 1 time, their Avives should be gi\ r en the same facilities as the wives of the officers, particularly as their pay could not be compared Avith that of the officers. It is felt by the men that the cost of travelling for their wives was a heavy drain on their pay. When approached, Mr Munro suggested that perhaps the naval authorities were against the ratings marrying, but it Avas stated in reply that extra pay AA-as given to the married men, Avhile provision was also made for children.