VICTIMISATION IS ALLEGED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 31, 30 October 1937, Page 5

VICTIMISATION IS ALLEGED

-Prw A|8n,-

Dismissal of Imperial Airways Pilots OBSOLETE PLANES

By Telegraph -

-Copyright.)

(Received 30, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON Oct. 29. The Conservative member of the Hous* of Commons, Mr W. R. D. Perkins, wice-president of the newlyformed British Airlines Pilotn' Assfciation, strongly criticised Imperial Air-' ways in the House of Commons, especially beeause the company had refused its pilots the right of collective bargaining. He said that there had been recently curious dismissals closely akln to victimisation, notably that of Mr Wilaon, pilot of the flrst air-mail to Australia. Mr Wilson has served Imperial Airways for seven and a-half years and is one of two people known as master pilots for both land and tsea planes," Mr Perkins added, "He was dismiased and no reason was given. I have a etrong feeling that it was beeause he opened his mouth tdo wide at the Oity of Khartoum inquiry. "Two officiale of the Pilots' Associat.ion suggested that the London-Budapest service ehould be suspended in winter ns the planes were not properly equipped. The service was stopped, but the officials who made the suggestion were dismissed. 1 1 Only a few planes are equipped with apparatus to enable a blind landing," Mr Perkins declared. "It is unfair to ask pilots to run a 100 per cent. service when the planes lack these elementary things. The machines on the LondonParis route are obsolete, and oth&r planes are definitely unsuitable for winter service in Europe. Pilots whose names are household worde but whose identity I will not diVulge, as it would mean dismissal, agree on this. "The Imperial Airships services aro the laughing-stock of Europe." Lieut.-Colonel A. J. Muirhead, UnderSecretary for Air, in replying, said that ImperiaJ Airways had the right as a commercial undertaking to discharge employees. The Air Minister was satisfied that the directors were not opposad to collective bargaining. There was no question of victimisation. Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead suggeSted that the winter service to Budapest had been withdrawn beeause it was unprofitable. Ha declined to request an impartial inquiry into Mr Perkins 's charges.