MEN’S COMPLAINTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 358, 12 February 1937, Page 5

MEN’S COMPLAINTS.

RIGOROUS ROUTINE.

Dirty Work To Be Done In

Full Kit.

(Special to “Central Press.”) Sydney, January 31. Though at first it was suggested yesterday that H.M.A.S. Sydney, Australia and Canberra would not sail to-night for the combined military and naval exercises at Jervis Bay, it is now certain that the cruisers will get away. Numbers of ratings yesterday declared, however, that they would not join the ships.

The Rear-Admiral in command of the Squadron, Rear-Admiral R. H. O. Lane-Poole, on Friday sent an address to the men, urging loyalty according to the' best traditions of the navy.

Ratings who gathered in the city yesterday to discuss the situation complained that conditions aboard their ships were too severe. Privileges had been whittled down and discipline was particularly strict. The complaints of the men can be set out as follows: The routine is too rigorous. - Harsh penalties are enforced for trivial offences. Many privileges granted to the men have been withdrawn. r Dress regulations mitigate comfort. ’Two ratings said they would not •eport for duty at 3.30 p.m. to-day, When shore leave is due to end prior :b the departure of the squadron for Jervis Bay, where combined naval and Military exercises will take place, but gmong the majority of men were fbund a remarkable spirit of loyalty m most of the officers —a loyalty that would not allow them to let the navy .down.

"We are up at 5.30 in the morning, and with time oft for meals we are kept going until 4 o’clock in the afternoon.” said another of the men. “Then we have watches at night. But that’s not all. ‘Action stations’ are sounded during the night, and everyone has to turn out. We don’t? get enough sleep.

“We have to do dirty work in full kit, and then ge? into trouble for not keeping our uniforms clean. Once we were allowed to roll our overalls down to the waist, but that has been stopped now. We just endure the heat.

“Once we were allowed to wear old caps when we did dirty work, but now our caps must be spotless. “Things came to a head when we found that we had to sail for Jervis Bay on Sunday afternoon instead of

on Monday morning. “We are not likely to have another week-end in Sydney for a long time, any many of the men have wives and children here.”