Strike-Breaking.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1914, Page 5

Strike-Breaking.

ATTITUDE OF THE NAVY.

THE RECENT N.Z. STRIKE.

[By Eleotrio Telegraph-—Copyrighi (United Press association.! (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, February 25.

Mr Allen Henderson, M.P., asked whether during the strike at Christchurch the men of H.M.S. Psyche and H.M.S. Pyramus were paraded with fixed bayonets and guns trained on the wharves and whether the searchlights were used to aid the strike-breakers.

Mr Churchill replied that the Phyche and Pyramus were present at one period of the dispute. He did not have the exact information, but the measures were adopted only at the express request of the responsible Government of the Dominion. The Admiralty's position was explained in a telegram sent to its senior officer in New Zealand on October 28th as follows:—"The Admiralty's policy is to avoid all interference in labour disputes, especially in the Dominions. Endeavour to avoid being in a position where you are likely to bo called upon, and don't go unless personally satisfied that your presence is necessary to' avoid' bloodshed. The Admiralty find- great difficulty in believing that such conditions exist." Mr Joynson-Hicks (Unionist member for Middlesex) asked if the commander should sail away if the thought he would be called to assist. Mr Churchill stated it had long been the Admiralty's policy to disentangle the Navy as far as possible from civil disputes. Mr Joynson-Hicks: "If the Colony requested the battleship, and the officer thought that possibly he would be asked to assist, should he sail?" Mr Churchill: "These matter's call for tact and discretion."