ALLEGATIONS DENIED

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

ALLEGATIONS DENIED

(Received 30, 1.50 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 29. Mr. Woods Humphery, managing direetor of Imperial Airways, replying to Mr. Perkins, denied that there had been 10 dismissals, as alleged. Seyen pilots' contracts were terminated, he said, for various reasons, none owing to membership of the Airlines Association. Unfortunately disclosure of the reasons for ending the ^contracts was impracticable, although they would, the company believed, not be exceptionable if disclosed, He denied that the company had refused collective bargaining, as it had concluded an agreement with the Wireless Operators' Association. Its other' craplpyees belonged to trade unions, Nevertheless, the bargaining organisation must be truly representative of employees. The Airlines Association had' been in existence for only fouf months.and so far had not been recognised by any air company. "It does. not appear to represent the views of our navigating officers," he aaid. Refernng to the allegations that thb 'planes were obsolete, he said that all held airworthiness certificates and were constantly eupervised by the Aeeonautical Inspection Department. He added that the criticism showed lack of vjgion and did inadequate justice to Imperial Airways' eteadfast concentration on the Empire mail echeme, with which the European services wero' inextricably interwoven.