DISMISSAL OF MALTESE NAVAL DOCK WORKERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1949, Page 5

DISMISSAL OF MALTESE NAVAL DOCK WORKERS

LONDON, September 1 (Rec. 10 a m> ) __The Admiralty announced tonight that it had refused the request of the Maltese Prime Minister, Dr Paul Boffa, for indefinite suspension of the dismissal of 1200 workers from the naval dockyards and establishments in Malta. Viscount Hall, First Lord ol the Admiralty, told Dr Boffa that the spreading of the discharges over eight months was a substantial concession designed to ease the Maltese Government’s problem. It was hoped to reduce the number of discharges. The. announcement said the Admiralty could not undertake to employ the men, for whom there was no work and for whom there was no money to pay. The policy applied equally to all Royal dockyards and naval establishments. When all the discharges became effective the number employed, at Malta would still be substantially higher than m 1938 and the £2 500,000 wages bill would be more than three times that of 1938. Dr Boffa said tonight that his mission to London had been unsuccessful. He said that the question of his resignation as Prime Minister would go to a special meeting of the Malta Cabinet when he returned to the island next Monday. The final meeting between the Colonial Secretary, Mr Creech Jones, and Mr Boffa. is expected tomorrow.