NAVY PAY & ALLOWANCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1939, Page 7

NAVY PAY & ALLOWANCES

HEARING OF EVIDENCE COMPLETED. ’ COMMITTEE TO REPORT TO GOVERNMENT. . (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND August 16. The (Government committee, which has been inquiring into pay and allowances in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, has heard all the evidence it wished to take. The chairman, Mr R. E. Price, Conciliation Commissioner in Auckland, said the committee would compile ii;s .report to the Government, and hoped to.present .it to the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones, in the middle of next week. Mr Price said the committee had taken evidence from about 110 serving members of the Navy. They ranged in rank from lower deck ratings to warrant officers, and both New Zealand and Imperial men went before the committee. They included single and married ratings. No time was lost by the committee in taking the necessary evidence, upon which depends what action the Government will take to answer recent requests by New Zealand ratings for increases in pay. Appointed at the end of June, the committee began its work within a few days and had made good progress when the departure on i.ae Pacific islands cruise of the Leander, which has more New Zealand ratings than any other ship, temporarily interrupted the hearing of evidence. The Leander returned to port on Thursday, and the committee immediately continued the inquiry.