TRADE UNION SUPPORTS BELLONA ABSENTEES

Evening Star, Issue 26091, 3 May 1947, Page 6

TRADE UNION SUPPORTS BELLONA ABSENTEES

(P.A) • AUCKLAND, May 2. Trade union support for the ratings absent without leave from the cruiser Bellona has crystallised into a request by the Labourers’ Union to the Minister of Defence for the dispute to be placed in the same category as that of the Philomel men, so that the Bellona ratings be given the option of taking their discharge. The request was forwarded to the Minister through the secretary of the Federation of Labour, Mr K. McL. Baxter, who replied to the Labourers’ Union to-day that Mr Jones had said that the Bellona men were in a different category from the 'Philomel ratings because they had had an opportunity of seeing" the new' rates of pay and conditions ami of making representations if necessary. The spokesmen for the Bellona ratings said to-day that their case was in the same category •at that of the Philomel men, because the only factor preventing them from taking simultaneous action with the Philomel ratings w'as that the Bellona was in Australian waters at the time, and they decided through a sense of loyalty to bring the Bellona home before taking action. They contended that trouble in the Bellona was apparently anticipated by the authorities, as she W'as recalled direct to Auckland from Hobart, arriving 11 day earlier than was planned in the original orders. The men say that strike action was mooted when the Bellona was in Australian waters, when 400 specific points of dissatisfaction were listed. The men say that , these were coded and radioed to New Zealand. FORTY MEN INVOLVED. Forty junior ratings from the cruiser Bellona are still absent over leave. They refuse to return to the ship until they receive a reply to their grievances, which they addressed to their commanding officer. According to an announcement by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, on Thursday night, ratings who. Jiave. been absent rfer. seven days or niore will be classed as deserters, and action will be taken . against offenders. Nineteen ratings have now been absent for seven days, but it is understood that no action was taken against them to-day. Another 19 men will become classed as deserters to-morrow. The first of two “long-leave” parties, consisting of 220 members of the Ballona’s complement, left the ship at noon to-day for a fortnight’s leave. A second party will leave .when the first returns.