Normal Conditions Return

Chronicle (Levin), 21 September 1946, Page 5

Normal Conditions Return

Press Association

OUT 0R BACK TO WORK

By Telegraph—

AUCKLAND, Sept. 29. The strike of airmen at tlie three (J Auckland stations of R.N.Z.A.F. ended today. A start was made with releasing a total of 270 men who were either unwilling to accept the conditions of service or who were, in the opinion of their respective eommanding officers, unsuitable for retention. The remainder of the strikers totalling about 390 returned to work, having been idle siiice Tuesday in support of their deniand for a 4ffihour, five-day week. Some of the airmen released were cleared from their stations in time for them to fly soutli by the routine Dakota service from Whenuapai early this afternoon. Whenuapai^ Hobsonville and Mechauics Bajr will have compieted the releases of alt men eoncerned by tomorrow afternoon. EJacIi man has been paid and sent on seven daysMeavel, and will be calted later for medical boarding. The commaiiding officers at the three stations were kept busy interviewing the airmen .who .iifid been among the strikers but vvlio had changed their .minds after the time liinit given' had expired and had

then indicated that tliey wished to iemain 111 the service. The commanders had been given authority to reiease or retain the meii in this category and at VVhenuapai Group Captain C. C, Hunter interviewed 75 men and retained 94 of them. Total releases at Whenuapai vvil! be 122. Releases from Hobsonville will be 104. Wing Commander Wiilis inter viewed 50 airmen and deeided to retain them all. Of the men leaving this station 90 per cent. are 1949 enlistments and aii additional 30 per cent. joined •only in 1945. No non-commissioued officers or Waafs were included but a uumber of pupils at the Technical ^Training Scliool were among those re teased.

Tlie smallest number of releases will be at Mechanics Bay where 104 of the airmen under Wing Commander Breekon were originally on strike. Of this total only 43 finally elected to be released and the remaining 91 were all retained. Although the majority of the men released -were new enlistments, it was stated that the full effect on the. service of their reiease could not be estimated untiL a detailed survey had been made of the- ranks and trades of the men who had left. When this had been done the rieeessary ad-justments would be made by- pos'tings from other stations and essential posts that had liecome vacant would be' filled. No difficulty was ex perieneed at any of the stations iu tlie aetuat releasing of the men. Those who earlier had acc.epted tlieir cleuraiu-e papeTS but were reh'using make. the neceflsary calls at the different sections to have their .elearanees compieted, adopted a fresh attitude and the releases proeeeded in routine fashion. All three stations will work tomorrow, tlie first Saturday since the appearanee or' the Ait Department order that preeipitated the strike. At Whenuapai a large proportion of the station strength will be on duty mainly to assist in ed'ecting the reiease of the airmen who are leaving. Only minimum staf'fs will be re tained at Hobsonville and Mechanics Bay to maintain essential services. -A small nufiiber of airmen released from Mechanics Bay are reported to have ealled at the Army recruiting office in Auckland to oflfer themselves as recruits It is understood none has so far been aceepted.