Absent Naval Ratings Get Union Support

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1947, Page 5

Absent Naval Ratings Get Union Support

P.A. AUCKLAND, May 2. Trade union support for the ratings absent without leave from the cruiser “Bellona” has crystallised into a request by the Labourers’ Union to the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, for the dispute to be

placed in the same category as that of the “Philomel” men, sg 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 of Labour, Mr. K. McL. Baxter, who replied to the Labourers’ Union to-day that Mr. Jones had said the “Bellona” men were in a different category to the “Ptiilomel” ratings, because they had had an opportunity of seeing the new rates of pay and conditions and of making representations, if necessary. Spokesmen for 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 from taking simultaneous action with the “Philomel” ratings was that the “Bellona” was in Australian waters at the time and they had decided, through a sense of loyalty, to bring the “Bellona” home before taking action. They contend that the trouble in the “Bellona” was apparently anticipated by the authorities, as the ship was recalled direct to Auckland from Hobart, arriving 11 days earlier than planned in the original orders. The men say that strike action was mooted when the “Bellona” was in Australian waters, when 400 specific points of dissatisfaction were listed. The men say these were coded and radioed to New Zealand.