AIRMEN STOP WORK

Grey River Argus, 30 January 1946, Page 7

AIRMEN STOP WORK

CAN’T LEAVE AIR FORCE Rongotai and Whenuapa} P.A. WELLINGTON, January 29. Something in the nature of a stopwork meeting took place at Rongotai aerodrome, to-day, when men of the 42 Squadron, R.N.Z.A.F., decided to place a grievance before the public through tfce Press. Between 40 and 50 men claimed not to be permitted to leave the Air Force, although they had three and up to five years’ service, but were employed in the transportation of civilians. Referring to complaints' from Whenuapai, they said they considered the Rongotai position was worse because their service carried a greater proportion of civilians, instead of Service personnel. They were forfeiting their chances of getting back to civilian life and opportunities to do so were daily decreasing. Since the war, more flying hours had been done from Rongotai than done in the war, and the men felt the Air Force was being exploited for civilian purposes. LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCES. p.A. AUCKLAND, January 29. Suggestions that R.N.Z.A.F. personnel at Whenupai contemplated striking as a protest against i etention in service, while their Dakota ■planes were being used for internal transport of civilians, was replied to in an interview this morning by Group Captain C. C. Hunter, Officer Commanding the air station. He agreed there had been growing resentment ever since V.J. Day, but emphasised that as far as he knew, there had been no threat ot suggestion of downing tools. The position was by no means comparable with the incident last October, when the men demanded an explanation as to why they could not be released immediately. He said he had been surprised to read certain newspaper articles which made it appear the men at Whenuapai had gone, or contemplated going to extremes. Actually there was nothing sensational at all although “certain chaps” had protested against being kept in. That had been going on since V.J. Day, but there had never been talk of striking. The Group Captain intimated however, the position might become aggravated later. Many of the men had a legitimate grievance. They were anxious to return to civilian employment, some had to complete apprenticeships and the longer they remained in the Air Force, the longer it would take them to become journeymen. Jobs were waiting for them and they resented being kept in service, especially as almost six months had elapsed since V.J. Day. Their attitude was understandable. “In all fairness to the men there has been no open grousing to any extent, and certainly no move to down tools. However, it cannot be denied there is growing resentment. At the same time, the men are pulling their weight,” the Group Captain concluded.”