IMPATIENT DIGGERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1919, Page 4

IMPATIENT DIGGERS.

DISSATISFIED WITH DELAYS RIOTING AT SLING. London, March 27.

The reputation which the. N.Z E.F. has enioyed throughout the war for oiderly behaviour got a slight set-back at the eleventh hour by reason of the riots which occurred at Sling a few days back. When the first ships were placed at the disposal of the force for deninhilisatimi there was not a little

difficulty in filling them. It was the ; policy of the demobilisation scheme j to send first the meu who had been l longest away from home, and this was put into practice as far as possible. Some difficulty was experienced, however, in filling the earlier boats with long-service men. These had not all been concentrated in England, to begin with, and some of those who were here were anxious to enjoy a little more life and see more Qf the country before returniughome. Consequently, vacancies were often filled up with men of later classification rather than allow the transports to go out empty. This was no grievance to the long- j service men. 011 the contrary, it

was generally a satisfaction to them to remain a little longer here. But the position was quite changed when, owing to strikes in England, it was found impossible for some weeks on end to despatch any of the vessels which were allotted to New Zealand. Before the strikes were over there was such a considerable concentration of men here that one or two new camps had to be opened to accommodate them, and long before the despatch of ships could be resumed the meu in camp here were becoming impatient. Most of them had already had their leave, aud did not command any great reserve of money to go again 011 indefinite leave. They also

chafed a good deal at the routine exercises which were necessary so long as they were kept in camp, and there was a considerable amount of dissatisfaction, moreover, at the education scheme being applied, as i the men thought, in" a compulsory form. Another of the grievances, which was soon expressed, was the injustice of married men being given priority of embarkation over long-service men. There had been a great number of marriages lately, and as a matter of convenience it had been desired to get the married couples out of the country at the earliest possible moment. In practice this meant that quite a number ,of men,who had only recently come oversea, by contracting marriages in England, were at once put at the head of the list for repatriation. The concentration depot at Torquay has been filled for. some time with married couples, and long-service men waiting in camps felt very much aggrieved that they should have to give place to them. The discontent broke out when two ships—the Kia Ora and the Northumberland—were about to sail from Liverpool. .Drafts had already been designated at Brocton |to fill these ships, and the men ! were ready to entrain when the discontent at Sling broke out. Rioting continued there for some hours, iu the course of which damage estimated at about was done to the hutments, institutes and stores. At one stage the bulk stores were broken into, and spirits which were seized by the men increased the violence of the riot. Every effort was made by Brigadier-General A. E. Stewart to calm the distui bailee at an early stage, but the authority of the officers, owing to the circumstances, was temporarily in abeyance. General Stewart told the men that most of the grievances which they had alleged were already being dealt with by the authorities, and advised them to send a small deputation to lay their case before the General Officer Commanding, Brigadier-General C. W. Melvil), in London. Next clay order was completely restored, and the camp routine went on as before, except that certain of the more irksome duties were abandoned. The British press, fortunately, has not taken a great deal of notice of the outbreak.

There is a good deal of sympathy with the N.Z.E.F. over the occurrence. The men having been away from home for so.long were naturally disappointed at being kept in camp week by week when the fighting was over. Camp conditions at any time are unpleasant, but since the war ended the life at Sling has been robbed of the one interest that made it bearable during the fighting. The whole trouble is due, of course, to the strikes which have held up shipping. If the demobilisation scheme had not been interrupted all these camps would have been steadily emptied, and even the men who were last on the rota would have felt less impatient. Moreover, the conditions surrounding the camp are not too pleasant at any time, and in inclement weather they are very drear. Salisbury is the only centre of any size near, and the interests there are not too many.

The new camp at Sutton Coldfield is highly spoken of by those who are fortunate enough to be theie, while there are numerous important and interesting centres within easy reach, so that the men have not time to feel dull.