SUSPECTED CASE OF SABOTAGE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 333, 14 January 1937, Page 5

SUSPECTED CASE OF SABOTAGE

DOCKYARD WORKERS. EIGHT DISMISSED. Suggestion Of Sabotage And Leakage Of Information Press Association—Copyright. London, Jan. 13. 1 Eight of the; naval’ dockyards at Devonport were summarily dismissed for reasons not disclosed. It is understood that secret ser- 1 vice officers making prolonged investigations into the recent sabotage, on warships and leakage of confidential information searched the kitboxes of a number of employees and discovered documents which were confiscated. According to the Daily Mail one of the dismissed dockyard workers possessed Communist literature. The newpaipers are protesting against the Admiralty withholding the reason for the dismissals. It is pointed out tha’f those dismissed have done long dockyard service, one over 30 years and another 25. One admits that he was once a member of the Communist Party, but states that he had.not been associated with the movement for ten years. The unions to which the men belonged are taking up the matter and questions will also be asked :n Parliament. The secretary of the Trans-

port and General Workers’ Union said: “We have thoroughly questioned one man and are satisfied that his discharge was unwarranted."