UNION SUPPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22320, 3 May 1947, Page 6

UNION SUPPORT

BELLONA RATINGS REQUEST TO MINISTER MR. JONES’ REPLY (P.A.) AUCKLAND. May 2. Trade union support for the ratings absent without leave from the cruiser Bellona has crystallised into a request bv the Labourers’ Union to the Minister of Defence. Mr. F. Jones, for the dispute to be placed in tiie same category as that of the Philomel men so that the Bellona ratings can be given the option of taking their discharge. The request was forwarded to the Minister through the secretary of the Federation oi Labour, Mr. K. McL Baxter, who replied to the Labourers’ Union to-day that Mr. Jones said the Bellona men were in a different category from the Philomel ratings because thev had the opportunity of seeing the new rates of pay and conditions and of making representations if necessary. The spokesman lor the Bellona ratings said to-day that their case was in the same category as that of the Philomel men because the only factor preventing them taking simultaneous action with the Philomel ratings was that the Bellona was in Australian waters at the time and they decided, through a sense of loyalty, to bring the Bcllona home before taking action. They , cotiteud the trouble in the Bellona apparently was anticipated by the authorities as the ship was recalled direct to,:Auckland from Hobart, arriving li days earlier than planned in the original orders. Tiie men say that the strike action was mooted when the Bellona was in Australian waters, when 400 specific points of dissatisfaction were listed. Th? men sav that these were coded ana radioed to New Zealand.