MORE NAVAL RATINGS WALK OFF SHIP

Chronicle (Levin), 9 April 1947, Page 4

MORE NAVAL RATINGS WALK OFF SHIP

TIMARU, April 8. _ Eleven ratings refused duty in II.M.N.Z.S. Hautapu which has its base in Timaru while engaged in scientific radar researeh work off the coast .of Canterbury. The men left the ship tliis morning but remained on the wharf all day. According to one rating a number of men had applied for discharge but a discharge had been refused .on the ground that they could not be re•placed in the meantime. . '"It is amazing that 180 ratings had been diseharged at Devonport naval base because they went on strike," he said. "It does not appear that our discharges were refused on valid grounds. Well, they can give us the boot, too." " We want our discharge from the Navy, ' ' said another. "Although the new rates of pay had been approved, the request for a welfare committee to safeguard the rights of lower declc ratings has not been granted. We were •told that any grievanee which required redress would have to go through the ordinary channels. We never got anvwhdre with that procedure in the past- and there is no reason to believe that it will be efficacious in the future." - The ship has a compliment of 21 men and it is expected that it will remain in port until the strike is settled. After a telephone eonversation with the authorities, the • commander told the men they had Ihe option of boarding the ship and sailing for Auckland or being elassed as deserters. The men decided to be elassed as deserters, one remarking: "Do you tlxinlc this justice?,'J They said they understood that disciplinafy action would be tfiken if 1 1 1 ey rehoarded the ship.