CONDITIONS IN THE ENDEAVOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21361, 2 June 1939, Page 7

CONDITIONS IN THE ENDEAVOUR

Some Exaggerations Alleged Inquiry Opens To-day By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, June 1. While exaggeration seems to have marked the English reports of active disaffection in the Admiralty survey ship Endeavour, instances were given when the vessel returned to Auckland from Russell to-day which showed that a section of the crew have not felt that they could fulfil happily the conditions of their service. It was stated without contradiction from any quarter that while the published cases of desertion and punishment by warrant have been spread over the two years the Endeavour has been in New Zealand, they have appeared to be crowded into a much smaller period because the public has been made aware of them only since one man deserted from the ship and wrote a letter to England. The Endeavour was originally due to return to Auckland on Saturday for her winter refit. She came back earlier not because the Admiralty has ordered an inquiry Into the allegations of harsh conditions of service, but because she needed refuelling. Inquiry To-day The inquiry has been ordered for to-morrow by Commodore RlvettCarnac, commanding' the sea going squadron. It will be facilitated by the fact that the Endeavour berthed alongside the Commodore’s flagship, H.M.S. Leander. The captain of the survey ship, Captain A. G. N. Wyatt, visited the Commodore after his ship berthed and later the Commodore went on board the Endeavour. At the inquiry opportunity will be afforded ratings to present their complaints individually. After the inquiry has been held, a report will be prepared by the Commodore and sent to the Admiralty in England. It is expected that later a statement will be made in the House of Commons, since questions concerning the ship originated there, after “Reynolds News’’ published a statement that in 18 months 11 ratings had broken out of the ship and 128 had overstayed their leave. It was commonly stated that the number of desertions since the ship came to New Zealand would be about 20. Some of the men, however, said that other ratings not included in this figure had been apprehended. The number of cases of punishment by warrant including several where men had been detained in a civil prison because New Zealand has no naval detention quarters and others where ratings had lost good conduct badges, was variously estimated from rather less than 50 to 70. In one mess of 25 men it was stated that 27 warrants had been issued. Some Satisfied One side of the picture from the ratings' point of view was expressed j by some of the men after coming ashore. They said that while a section of the crew had expressed complaints and discontent had been apparent among them, the position on the ship could easily be magnified. They said that on the way to Auckland from Russell a number of them had decided to express resentment at the tone behind the statements made | in England. These men also pointed I out that about one-fifth of their number had volunteered for service in the Endeavour when she recommissions in August. In the ordinary course of events they would be relieved by other ratings, but they said they were sufficiently satisfied with the life on board to remain with the ship for another commission. Basic Cause of Complaint Other men. however, expressed a different attitude. The basic reason, they said, was not confined to the Endeavour. It was that the rates of pay did not compare at all favourably with what men were receiving in civilian occupations. Some of the deserters, they said, felt they could earn a much better living on shore especially if they had any vocational training. They admitted that because of this there were naturally more desertions in New Zealand than in England and probably on any other station in the Empire. This reason, they said, was given additional support by their feeling that in the Endeavour there was not sufficient "give and take” on board as there should be. Allowances should be made, they said, for the following (1) the fact that 132 officers and men were crowded into a ship of such small size; (2) the fact that since she was a coal-burning ship the duties of the stokers were much more unpleasant than in oil burning vessels, and (3) the long periods spent at sea in all sorts of weathers and the neverending nature of their task compared badly enough with work in a warship to warrant some relaxations which did not impair efficiency.