Detention For Airman Who Refused To Go On Fire Picquet

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 November 1950, Page 6

Detention For Airman Who Refused To Go On Fire Picquet

BLENHEIM, Last Night (PA).—A sentence of 84 days’ detention was imposed by a district court martial at Woodbourne air station today on leading Aircraftman Sean Alfred Parker on two charges of unlawfully disobeying the command, of a superior officer. Evidence disclosed that accused, a carpenter in the regular Air Force, had refused on two occasions commands to perform fire picquet duties. This, according to evidence by accused’s superior officer SquadronLeader Salmon, who recounted an interview of two hours with accused, was because such duties were against accused’s principles. He said that he had been recruited in London as a woodworker, not a fire picquet. Further, he and his family were strong trade unionists and it was against their principles for one man to do the work of another. He was prepared to stand by these principles and no' be like some who talked but did not act.

Squadron-Leader Salmon said that accused claimed that operating a wood work machine was a dangerous job and that he wanted all the rest he could get. In cross-examination witness said accused was an excellent tradesman, and he admitted he had made a recommendation to the Commanding Officer for an amendment in the present fire picquet. Accused claimed in evidence that working his machine was a dangerous job and that he required proper rest. After losing sleep through fire picquet duties, he said, he would be physically incapable of properly using the woodworking machine, and he quoted the Factories Act in regard to the risks involved. He said he discussed “time off” with his officer, and had been told that it was the first time the question had been raised at Woodbourne. The senior secretarial officer at Woodbourne said accused had appeared to be an embittered man who had decided to be a martyr to a cause. The sentence as imposed is subject to confirmation by the convening officer, Air Commodore Wallingford.