THE MERCANTILE MARINE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 70, 17 December 1918, Page 6

THE MERCANTILE MARINE

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Whilst I do not desire to trespass too far upon your valuable space, nor yet to engage in a controversy with the secretary of the Seamen's Union, I think there are one or two points in the secretary's letter to whiclrl should refer. Firstly, he starts his letter by insinuating that I was not presenting the truth to your readers. Continuing, he goes on to deny, seriatim, my assertions. Before he concludes he practically admits that they were correct! 1 1 admit, that he gives, to him, sound' reasons for seamen not joining ships, but theso reasons in every case were allowed tS override the fact of the boats being required to take soldiers home from camp. Many of these N soldiers had dear ones at home ill. The reference to <£1 as being "Masseyised 135." is characteristic of the agitator. He loses no opportunity of blaming Mr. Massey for our ''war difficulties." In common with other members of the community, I have felt the pinch, and if my experience goes, the seamen hnvo felt it least of any section of the forking men. Proof of this statement lies in the fact that tho men are' so long-winded about manning the ships again. Funds will evidently allow of a prolonged period of convalescence with them. Again, there was the "hitch" (not strike, please) some time ago when the officer on the Pnleena had the audacity to order a man to do some work. Had the men 'been Teqiiiring every shilling they, could earn they could not have afforded to throw up their jobs so lightly. With reference to the seamen who are, or were, at the front, I maintain that these -men's actions in offering their services for our country is sufficient to show that they are not of the noisy agitator variety, and it would certainly befit Mr. Young better if he w?m to confine himself to the men who did not go. In other walks in life people jvere hard put to it to'carry on -luring the war. and some were as essential and technical ns the duties of the seamen, yet tliere was not the outcry from then) fir exemptions that there was from the seamen. In passing, what does Mr. Young mean bv saving that "numbers of men who joined the mercantile marine are now returning to their occupations o" sbnve' 1 ? How many of them were of military aje? T have enm'nved men. Sir. exeimited mi the annlieai'oii of the imio» secretary i'-lir» K'(7o made no a "s v et of' the factthat tliey ivce only doing short "stupts at sea to pi a"i lain their oxepipHons. One or two. I I)?H°vp. have not followed the sea even oil "stunts." but I have Wn ob'iged to emnlov then. I "light add. S'r. I am a Nej)' Zealnader. and as Riich I cannot lieln expressing concern a' tho manner in which a retain section of the electors of New Zealand is votinr men of the labour npntator tynp into Parliament. Pchans when sufficient o( them are elected to ruiu this, fair Tin-' I minion, these irresponsible, c.arc-froc voters will see their error. I trust it may hot be too late. —J am, etc., "BIT STRAIGHT." 1