THE MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1897, 4 November 1913, Page 6

THE MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD.

The Merchant Service Guild, , if Captain Watson, its secretary, voices its views, will not do itself any servico with tho public by its action in connection with the present strike. If -the masters and' mates choose to associate, themselves with the lawless methods of the Federation of Labour, and seek at the present juncture', to join in the struggle, and cast their weight on the side of dis- ! order and rioting,' that is their business. Presumably thoy consider their personal interests of the moment of greater concern than the protection of tho community and the trade of the country against the terrorism and intimidation of mob rule. It is inconceivable, however,' that any representative body of members of the Guild could have deliberately taken the step suggested at the present critical state of affairs; and if, as we hilly boljeve to be tho case, t-lie action decided on locally was hastily and thoughtlessly agreed to immediate steps should be taken to rescind it. The Dunedin members of the Guild, _ and many of its loGai members, it _is gratifying to observe, j have_ decided to stand loyally by ,the public in the present struggle against the forces of disorder. It is impossible to believe, in view of the class of men engaged as officers and mates on the boats trading about our coasts, that any large section of them could seriously consider the question of ' allowing their names or their organisation to bo associated with such lawlessness as has outraged the sense of justice of every right-thinking citizen from one end of the Dominion to the other.