TROUBLE AT RONGOTAI

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21962, 5 March 1946, Page 4

TROUBLE AT RONGOTAI

SERVICING OF PLANES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 4. For some time there had been growing objection among some of the aircraftmen stationed at Rongo.tai to being retained in the service for R.N.Z.A.F. transport duties, which in considerable part cater for civilian, Ministerial and Parliamentarian passengers, as well as for service personnel. The R.N.Z.A.F. transport service has been substantially reduced in recent weeks and opportunity has been given those who wish to leave the service .to do so, but the dissatisfaction at Rongo.tni continued, culminating in a decision of the men concerned no.t to service air force planes for the transport of civilians. The servicing is now being carried out by the De Havilland Aircraft Company. The .threat by the ground staff personnel at* Rongotai aerodrome to refuse to service air force aircraft carrying civilian passengers was 1 forestalled by the air force arranging for the De Havilland Aircraft Company to maintain transport machines based at Rongotai.

Last week the air force handed over to De Havillands the servicing of transport aircraft based at Rongotai. In a statement, .the Air Department said that with the steady reduction of transport commitments it was now considered more economical jo pass the limited amount of servicing necessary at Rongotai to De Havillands and thus release more men for discharge or other duties.

MINISTER’S EXPLANATION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 5.

“As a result of the demobilisation that has been proceeding in the Air Force, there has been a reduction in the number of personnel required to service our transport aircraft,” said the Minister of Defence. Mr. F. Jones, when invited last evening to comment on the report that there was a growing objection by some of the aircraftmen at Rongotai to being retained to service aircraft carrying civilians. The Minister added that at present an appeal was being made to obtain recruits for the air force to supplement those who wished to remain in the force. It would be necessary to use to a limited extent the services of outside personnel and the De Havilland Company -and other firms to meet the present situation until sufficient personnel had been recruited to enable the Air Force to do its work entirely itself.