CREW OF THE MATUNGA

Taihape Daily Times, 18 March 1919, Page 5

CREW OF THE MATUNGA

GRATITUDE TO THE COMPANY

SYDNEY, March 7

Twenty-six officers and members of the Burns-Philp steamer Matimga returned to Sydney this week. Nearly two years ago the ship was captured by the German , raider Wolf and the people aboard wore taken to Germany. The dependents of the crew, most of whom were married men, were left in a most unenviable position. The owners of the Matunga, however, made allowances to all the dependents, and these payments went on during the whole time the men were prisoners.

With the signing of the armistice, the Matunga contingent was released, and on their arrival the Burn-Phil p Company gave them a formal welcome home. In the course of the proceedings it was stated that the company had paid out no less than £II,OOO in wages and allowance since the Matunga was lost. The crew " received wages all the time from the disappearance of the Matunga to the moment they landed again in. Sydney. The 26 men drew £3900 the day after ithey arrived. In addition the company sent. £SOO to the Red Cross in London, to be expended on food parcels for the men while they were prisoners, and at Christmas time it presented each wife rated as a dependent with £lO and each child with £2. The men concerned are loud in their expressions of gratitude to the company.