MINESWEEPERS’ WORK.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3331, 8 November 1919, Page 6

MINESWEEPERS’ WORK.

NEW ZEALAND TRAWLERS.

MEN SEEK R'ECOGNI’[‘ION.

The position of the men who were engaged on New Zealand 'trawlel-5. in the first mine-sweeping o»perations”"Earried out on ‘the New Zealand -coast“‘w«as discussed recently by the executive

of the Returned Soldiers’ Association

Mr T. Long explained that the crews of tlie trawlers engaged to sweep for mines when it was discovered thva-ta these had beenisown on the coast felt‘: that they had been. ignored. Rcpresen-J tationg had been made to the Government with the object of obtaining some I recognition -for the services rendered, by these men, but he understood the Minister for Defence took’ up the position that the vessels having been chartered for the work, the members of the crew could not be recognsied as belonging to the naval forces engaged in Hvar work. The men 7had performed. fille work under conditions o'f"ext.relne’s danger and h«ardship. He was informed that the ‘crawlers chartered"in New Zealand had accounted for twenty mines during their first month’s operations, and had worked under the same conditions of the trawiers of the navy Casualties had occurred during the operations, and colnpenslation for death‘ and injury had been provided in acordance with the civil law. He considered these men were entitled“ to the same recognition as the men of { the navy who worked on the tr‘-aw-I lers with them, and should receive gratuities for their service. I

Mr V. Atkinson said the men on the New Zealand trawlers had performed their hazardous wofk just as well «as those on the trawlerst in the North. Sea. They had swept up 28 mines a.t.'-Cape Farewell, and also cleared the minefield at_ the. North Qape. The British mine-sweepers that had subsequently operated on the New Zealand coast had not discovered a single mine. He generally endorsed what the previous speaker had said in respect. to the work of the New Zealand men on the trawlers. It was decided that the executive make representations to the Government with‘ the object of having the men recognised and -treated tas.members of the. navy during their period of service on the mine sweepers.