WARSHIPS AT THE WHARVES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 647, 28 February 1914, Page 2

WARSHIPS AT THE WHARVES.

DURING NEW ZEALAND STRIKE. WOULD ASSIST TO AVERT BLOODSHED. By Telegraph—Press Association.—Oopyrigrit London, Thursday. In the House of Commons yesterday Mr Arthur Henderson, Labour member for the Barnard Castle division of Durham, asked whether during the strike in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Psyche and Pyramus men paraded with fixed bayonets, while the guns were trained on the wharveß, and the searchlights aided the Btrike-breakers. Mr Wirnton Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, replied that the Psyche and Pyramus were present at one period of the dispute. He had no exact information, but the measures were adopted only at the expresß request of the responsible Government of the Dominion The Admiralty's position was explained in a telegram sent to the senior officer in New Zealand on October 28th. The Admiralty's policy was to avoid all interference in labour disputes, especially in the Dominions, and to endeavour to avoid being in a position where it was likely that they would be called upon, and for the ships not to go unless the senior officer was personally satisfied that their presence was necessary to avoiJ bloodshed. The Admiralty would find great difficulty in believing that such conditions existed. Mr Joynson Hicks: Should the commander sail away if he thought it was likely that he would be called upon to assist? Mr Churchill: It has long been the Admiralty's policy to disentangle the navy as far as possible from civil disputes. Mr Joynson Hicks: If the colony requested a battleship and the officer thought ihat he would possibly be asked to assist, should he sail? Mr Churchill: These matters call for tact and discretion.