NAVAL PAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1939, Page 5

NAVAL PAY

PROTEST MEETING HELD AT DAVENPORT MEN WALK OFF SHIPS SOME STOPPED BY MARINE GUARD. POSITION OF IMPERIAL RATINGS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Juno 19. Dissat isl'ael ion will) llieir rales of pay, brewing for a long time among Dominion ratings in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, came io a head today, when about 500 men from the e.ruisers Leander and Achilles and the flepot ship Philomel walked off their vessels and held a meeting of protest in one of the base sheds. It has been made clear that the men hope for an early settlement of the matter and a further meeting is proposed in a few days' time if the desired increase in pay is not obtained. Representations by the men were communicated to the commodore commanding the New Zealand Squadron. Commodore Rivett-Carnac, and a report was later sent to the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones. Commodore Riv-ett-Carnac, later left for Wellington, where the position will be discussed tomorrow.

In the last few days Commodore Rivett-Carnac has been ill with influenza, and the ratings paid him high tribute for going to the base and giving attention to their representations. The meeting was pre-arranged. Immediately before it was held, men in the Leander, which is at present in dock for refit, were called upon to continue with the cleaning of the cruiser’s bottom. Instead of doing so ,the New Zealanders walked off the ship in a body and went to a nearby shed. Here they were joined by a large group from the Philomel, and also by some of the New Zealanders off the Achilles. Others from the Achilles, however, were not able to do so. They said later that a guard of Royal Marines was stationed at the head of the gangplank after a comparatively small number had left the ship. ASSERTION OF GRIEVANCES. Such meetings, it was stated, were not provided for under Admiralty regulations. In the Navy service complaints or requests bad to be made individually and not collectively. Fully aware of this, stated some of the men later, they would have hesitated to take the step decided upon, if they had not been fully satisfied of the justice of their claims.

Spokesmen for the men said that other methods of obtaining better pay had -been tried in the past. Complete failure had attended their efforts, though on at least two occasions promises to have the matter attended to had been made.

Though a few attended, Imperial ratings did not take part in the meeting. It was stated, however, that Imperial men have also been considering several matters concerning their pay. One of these is that they are called upon in New Zealand to pay social security charges. While they could not see the justice of paying the previous unemployment, and then later, the employment levy, they said they were even less inclined to pay for the cost of social security benefits, from which they did not expect to derive the least benefit. It was stated by ratings that rates of pay today are exactly the same as in 1924, the average flat rate being 7s 6d a day. It was also stated that this with the 2s 6d an hour paid to the labourer outside. Further, it was alleged that the marriage allowance in the New Zealand Division is 14s a week, compared with 17s in the Royal Navy, nothwithstanding that the cost of living in England is far cheaper than in New Zealand. Another complaint is that clothes arc not free, as is commonly supposed. An allowance of 3d or 4d a day only is given the men to buy and keep up their compulsory kits. The most that a married man may allow his wife is £2 17s 6d weekly, it is stated, which leaves, after all taxes are deducted, about 5s a week to pay his mess bill and other items.

The men say they have to pay the same taxes as any civilian. They say, too. that the Government aims to have New Zealand-manned ships by 1941, but, unless conditions are improved, this would be an impossibility. They state that in 1935, on hyo occasions, May and October, 10 stokers wore required and 500 applied; 20 boy seamen were required and 300 applied. With conditions as they are for civilians, however, it was not possible to get seven stokers when 15 were required, and nine seamen when 30 were required. ALLEGED NEGLECT. The men conclude their complaints by challenging the. statement of a naval official that blew Zealand ratings are satisfied with their pay and conditions. The men allege that the navy has been neglected in spite of the fact that the army and air . force have gained substantial increases in pay and improved conditions. They claim also that a naval rating has no chance of meeting, on terms of equality, men engaged on work of equal skill on shore. It has been stated that the (rouble had its origin in the fact that naval ratings have been unable to protect their interests through the formation of organisations similar to trades unions in the industrial world. BETTER ALLOWANCES PROPOSALS ALREADY BEFORE CABINET. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. WELLINGTON, This Day. "The Government has for some time been considering proposals for improving the allowances to naval ratings in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy.” said the Prime Minister. Mr Savage, when invited last evening to comment on the dispute al the Naval Base in Auckland. "As a matter of fact." said Mr Savage, “those proposals have already been framed and will be submitted to Cabinet for consideration -with the next day or two.”

NO COMMENT

ATTITUDE OF THE BRITISH

ADMIRALTY. (Received This Day. 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 19. The Admiralty declines to comment on the New Zealand naval pay demand. "New Zealand lias a sepaiate service, with its own regulations. The Admiralty could not in these circumstances give any opinion, it was stated.