Cook Island Seamen Demand

Better Pay

1 ELEVEN Rarotongan members of the j crew of the auxiliary schooner “Tagua” and the auxiliary ketch “New Golden Hind” paraded through parts of Auckland. NZ, on May 2, and gathered in the grounds of the Supreme Court. They carried placards stating their claims for pay and better conditions.

They were spoken to by a police sub inspector, arid they then dispersed.

Both ships have been involved in a dispute with their crews since the end of March.

The placards stated that the crews had served New Zealand throughout the war, and asked payment of the war risk gratu ity. overtime money, and the New Zealand seamen’s award wages.

The “Tagua” is on charter to the Pub lic Works Department from the Cook Islands Trading Company of Rarotonga. (An advertisement offering her for sale appears elsewhere this issue.) She has been at anchor in the stream since March 29, ready to sail for Norfolk Island, Noumea, and the Solomons. The “New Golden Hind” is a PWD vessel. She was waiting to leave for Sunday Island, Niue Island, and Rarotonga.

Miss Claire McDonald was farewelled by a number of her friends at Rosalie

(Brisbane), recently, prior to her leaving

for Port Moresby.