FIRM POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1946, Page 6

FIRM POLICY

THE AIR DEPARTMENT DISSATISFIED MEN MAY OBTAIN RELEASE PLAIN ANSWER TO STRIKERS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 19. An authorisation from the Air Department to release all personnel dissatisfied with the conditions of service was a new development this morning in the strike of the Interim Air Force personnel which continued to- ■ day on three Auckland stations.

The signal 'from the Air Department was as follows:—“Essential services on all Air Force stations must be maintained throughout the week and personnel must be available to undertake work that may be required at any time. Every endeavour must be made by the station commanders at week-ends to reduce the number employed to the minimum necessary to meet the requirements during that period. For personnel who are not prepared to abide by these conditions of service and who would prefer terminate their engagement with the R.N.Z.A.F., release action will be authorised. Station commanders are to communicate these instructions to all personnel in the most appropriate manner for their particular station.” Attitude of Men. At the time this press message was dispatched the Air Department signal had not been promulgated in Auckland, although rumours concerning its contents had been circulated among the strikers, whose spokesmen expressed the opinion that the majority would request release from the service. Later, this afternoon it was stated that all the striking airmen had been informed of the Air Department’s order and decisions as to whether they would take their release from the service were required at parades this afternoon. The general opinion still was that the great majority would ask for release.

Yesterday passed quietly at all three stations. There was no disorder, and essential services were again maintained. Scheduled flying from Whenuapai was not interrupted, and meals were served normally. Victimisation of non-strikers, including W.A.A.F.’s, occurred at Whenuapai, and resulted in complaints being made to the commanding officer, Group Captain C. C. Hunter. Incident at Whenuapai.

■The most notable occurrence was at Whenuapai, where the striking airmen took the unprecedented course of endeavouring to dictate to the senior R.N.Z.A.F. officer in New Zealand as to when they would hear his address. Air Commodore Wallingford promptly refused to speak in the circumstances, and left the station The meeting at which AnCommodore Wallingford was to speak was called at Whenuapai for the usual hour of beginning work, 8 a.m. At 7.55 a.m. the station warrant officer reported to the commanding officer that the airmen would not attend because two of their delegates were not comm* to the station until 8.45 a -™- ro^ p Captain Hunter replied that tians port had been provided on Tuesday for living off personnel as usual and that the carrier had returned to tn station at 7.35 a.m/ bringing the airmen If the men were not prepared to parade at 8 o’clock the Am Commodore would not address them at all. The men decided not to attend and the talk was cancelled.. ’ GOVERNMENT’S POSITION MADE PLAIN (P.A.) ■ WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The Minister of Defence, Mr, Jones, discussing- the cessation o_ duties which have occurred at R.N.Z.A.F. stations, said to-day trial the Air Department signal on the subject meant that personnel should be allowed maximum leisure consistent with carrying out the necessary work on every R.N.Z.A.F. station It was quite clear that from time to time the amount of work necessary to discharge the responsibilities of each station would vary m accordance with the demands made on the station. The further effect was to impress on every member of the R.N.Z.A.F. that he was liable for duty 24 hours of a seven-day week. That was covered in' the R.N.Z.A.F. regulations and the Air Force Act. Each member accepted these conditions when signing the service papers of attestation, the Ministei added. “The Government wishes it understood that the armed forces are always on call at all times,” said Mr. Jones. “The R.N.Z.A.F. has now offered each member who does not wish to accept the service conditions his immediate release. It is anticipated that a few of the personnel may prefer to accept release rather than accept the true spirit and conditions of an armed service.”