STRIKE AT TRENTHAM CAMP

Chronicle (Levin), 8 May 1946, Page 4

STRIKE AT TRENTHAM CAMP

— Fress ■- Association

OVER FIFTY RIEN INVOLVED . DEMAND FOR, RELEASE {

By Telegravh-

WELLINGTON, May 8. A strike among ' servicemen at Trentham Military Camp occurred to-day, and they desire a definite statement of poliey from the Government regarding their position. The men say they believe that the . Government should have stated av definite policy for the Army when they made an announcement regarding the interim air force. When the men had made a similaf movement to obtairi release some two ° months befbre Christmas, the Government had said that they would ma,ke a definite statement before March 31. This had not been made. Just over 50. men are "i-nvolved, their cSges ranging .from 20- to- 23. They explained to-day that their reason for striking was a desire to get out of the army because they were wasting their time, and would be ,better back -at their trades "or occupations. N Tne men were cohscripted for overseas service, but were retained, pending their release, in the Ordnance Department. The strikers represent only about one-seventh of the Ordnance Department at Trentham, but other men are stated to have indicated their sympathy .with the strikers' jobjects. J The strikers say that when the jwar with Japan ended, they were I given an assurance that they would be released in a reasonable time, jbut there is now no sign of this, land it seems that their release is lunlikely even for another year. | There has been talk of arf interim jarmy on the lines of the air force iproposals, and the men fear that jthey will be kept in till this is ar- ; ranged. The indefinite nature of ; any assurances of their release is >the real burden of their complaint.