ANDES’ WELCOME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21853, 25 October 1945, Page 6

ANDES’ WELCOME

CABINET_REGRETS SLOW TASMAN TRIP SOLDIER GRIEVANCES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. Boos, ironic cheers, and a confused shouting of more or less personal remarks; accompanied by a few eggs, greeted the official party on the Janie Seddon meeting the troopship Andes on her arrival at Wellington. One or two aboard the ship protested by calling out: "Cut it out, you fellows!” However, no damage was done to anybody. The official party included the Hori. Walter Nash. acting-Prime Minister, and the Hon. F. Jones, Minister of Defence, and the demonstration was to express disapproval of the length of the passage from Australia. “Twenty-three days to Australia, then four and a half to get to New Zealand,” said one of the men disgustedly. "It’s a good job for the wharfies there were none on the wharf yesterday. We would have thrown them into the drink!” "Welcome home to New Zealand, but never mind the man who has been fighting for them!” Addressing the men, Mr. Nash said it was “just impossible” to alter the arrangements originally made for the ship's arrival. ‘I am sorry if anybody has been caused any inconvenience,” he said. N.Z.EF. repatriated prisoners-of-war stated they had been forced to do fatigues round the ship while comparable air force ranks, who had not been prisoners, did not tackle them. “We are supposed to be repatriated men and to be treated like civilians travelling,” saici a New Zealand sergeant, “but our boys did all the fatigues, cook-house duties, washing down of mess tables and things like that. “When we got on board the ship was dirty and even the plates hadn’t been washed. Being in a minority, we had to turn to and take it. It wasn't until near the end of the voyage that Air Force N.C.O.’s had to turn to and work. Our boys did all the dirty work on board, and the excuse given was that there were so many Air Force officers on board they were short of other ranks to do the fatigues. They had Army sergeants working in the cookhouse and dishing out grub all the time.

“They tried to smooth it over by giving us extra money for doing fatigues. but it still stinks!”