QUICK ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1943, Page 3

QUICK ACTION

PROMISED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF SHIPPING HOLD-UP CONTINUES. MANNING BY NAVAL RATINGS IF NECESSARY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, December 22. Before manning with naval crews the ships. which have been laid up, the Commonwealth authorities are waiting to see whether the striking seamen obey the Prime Minister's instructions to resume work. Drastic action will have to be taken quickly to prevent the dislocation of vital war industries and continued refusal by the seamen -.to man .vessels will force the Government to consider the use of naval ratings. With large-scale operations proceeding in the South-West Pacific area, any additional strain .on navy personnel is considered undesirable, and the Government would much prefer the ships to be manned by civilian sailors. The determination of the Government not to yield in the dispute, the cause of which has not been revealed, was expressed today. The Commonwealth Government takes the view that it has given the seamen practically everything -Ihey have asked for and that the seamen cannot possibly have any grievance of such nature as to justify a paralysing hold-up. The strike is threatening the transport of coal and other goods needed for essential war industries and civilian requirements.

COLLAPSE EXPECTED SEAMEN MEET IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, December 22. A meeting of seamen hero today decided by an overwhelming majority to take the ships to sea forthwith, providing full complements are mustered. Melbourne seamen meet tomorrow. It is believed here that the hold-up will collapse. At' present 28 ships are affected.

McMILLAN, Alexander T., Pte., Wyndham. McNEE, John, Cpl., Huntly. MAHONY, Owen C., Pte., Pukekohe. MARR, Graham C., L/Cpl., Avondale. MARTIN, Oki, Pte., Gisborne. MASON, Andrew, Sgt., Havelock. MEIHANA, Hemi, Pte., Arahura.' MILLS. Cecil F. C., Pte., Whangarel. MILLSTEED, Donald M., Pte., Northern Wairoa. MITCHELL, James J. D., L/Cpl., Balmoral. MOORE, Leonard J., Pte., Auckland. MORTLEY, Harold G., Pte.. Napier. MUNRO, Tuku, Pte., Raupunga. MURPHY. Percival G., Pte.. Auckland. NAERA, Kepa, Pte. Mrs V. R. Naera, Naumai, Gladstone (w). NEAL, John W„ Cpl., Marlborough. NOLAN, Raymond J., Pte., Morvan. O’RILEY, William 8., T/Sgt„ Upper Hutt. PATERANGI, Taringatai, Pte., Ara-

rnoho. PAWSON. George T, Gnr, Tauranga. PERRIAM, Willis I, Gnr, Dunedin. POMANA, George, Pte, Wairoa. POU, Adam, L/Cpl, Whangarei. PRIME, Jack, Pte, Auckland. PUDDY, Henry E, Pte, Caversham. PUHA, Jerald, Pte, Raukokore. PURCELL, F, Gnr, Mangapai. REAY, Robert H, Pte, Dunedin .. RESTALL, Albert A, Pte, Waihi. ROGERS, Te Wharekire, Sgt, Rotorua. ROOTH. Francis T, Pte, Australia. ROSE, Harold S, Pte, Ponsonby. ROSE, Stewart S, Pte, Gore. ROSSER, Cecil K, Pte, New Plymouth. . ROWLAND, William, Cpl, Rangitukia. RUSSELL. Innes W„ Pte, Herne Bay. SANDERS, Eric F. K, Pte, Taupiri. SHAND, Roy C, Pte, Nelson. SHARROCK, Herbert S, Pte, Te Awamulu. SHAW, Harry, L/Cpl, Opotiki. SHEARER. Stanley C, Pte, Te Kuiti. SMITH, Ferguson N, Pte, Southland. SMITH, James H, Pte, Gore. - . SOLOMON. George, L/Cpl, Keriken. STEER, Albert W, T/Cpl, Palmerston SUTHERLAND, Robert J, T/L/Sgt., Tauranga. SWARBRICK, Roger L, Bdr, Te Awamutu. , TAITOKO. George, Pte, Mokau. TAMAKI, Jack T, Pte, Te Kawa. TAPPIN, Robert S, T/W.0.11, MataTHOMPSON, Alexander, L/Cpl, Tangaihi. , THORBURN, Francis L, Pte, .WhanTHWAITES, John R. C. H, Pte, Coromandel. TUHOE, Ray, Pte, Patutahi. TUTEMAHURANGI, Abraham, Pte, Kakahi. . WALKER, Mervyn, Pte, Dannevirke. WALTON, Percy E, Gnr, West Coast. WEBB, Gordon L, Pte, New Plymouth. , . WHAREAITU, Wiremu, Cpl, Ohmemutu. , WHITE, James A, Pte, Rangataua. WICHMAN, Leslie M, Pte, Onehunga. WILLIAMS, Rae D, Pte, Dannevirke. WILLIAMS, Ronald C,' Pte, Remuera. WILLIAMSON, Robert G, Cpl, Wanganui East. . WILSON, George R, Sgt, Wairoa. WOOD, Gordon D, Pte, Dunedin. WOODROFFE, Frederick A, L/Cpl, Mt. Albert. ' WOTHERSPOON, Graham, 1/bgu, Hamilton. . . WYATT, Robert, L/Cpl, Pakiri. YOUNG, Michael H. W, Cpl, Invercargill.

AIR CASUALTIES NEW ZEALAND PERSONNEL. The following New Zealand air personnel serving overseas have been reported as casualties:— KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE.CROSSGROVE, Ralph, Pilot Officer, D.F.M., Auckland. JENKIN, Ralph F„ Flying Officer, Mission Bay. KINROSS, Colin J., F/Sgt., Pt. Chevalier. ■ „ , TURNER, Wilfred E. 8., F/Sgt., Puketitiri. SERIOUSLY INJURED. BROWN, James L., A/c. 1., Gisborne,