FINDING CREWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1942, Page 3

FINDING CREWS

APPEAL TO FORMER SEAMEN IN AUSTRALIA STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF COMMISSION. VOLUNTEERS TO BE ENROLLED IF NECESSARY. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. The Maritime Industry Commission announces that a plan has been evolved, in conjunction with the Seamen’s Union of Australia and New Zealand, whereby it is hoped to find full crews for ships at present delayed in Australian ports. An appeal is made to former members of the mercantile marine, now doing work ashore, to return to sea. The Chairman of the Commission, Mr Justice Debaun, in an official statement tonight, said the ranks of Australian seamen had been depleted in several ways since the outbreak of war. A substantial percentage had volunteered for war service and others had transferred to jobs in shore industries. The accumulated effect of this depletion of manpower had been to delay the departure of ships and interfere with essential' war work. In addition a number of seamen had taken objection to the disciplinary measures instituted for the efficiency and movement of ships. Mr Justice Debaun added that, if the appeal to seamen to return proved unsuccessful the commission would proceed energetically with the establishment of a pool of volunteer seamen, with the appropriate qualifications and ready at any time to step into the breach, to take ships to sea, if union members are not able or willing to do so.