NAVAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 205, 27 February 1914, Page 5

NAVAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

ACTIONJtN RECENT STRIKE. 7 ' WHAT 19 THE RIGHT COURSE? .By Cable—Press Assonnf ion—Copyright London, February 25. Mr. Arthur Ilender-on, it.P.; asked whether, during the- strike at Christchurch, the men of the Psyche and I'yraiiius were paraded with fhel bayonets, the guns trained on the wharves ant searchlights used to aid the strike-break- , era. Mr. Churchill replied that the Psyche and Pyramusi were present at one per--rtil of the dispute. He ha 1 rat exact information, but the measures adopted were only taken at the express request of the_ responsible Government of the Dominion. The Admiralty's position was explain ed iu a telegram sent to the senior officer in New Zealand on October 2S. This an id: •''The Admiralty's policy is to • void all interference in labor disputes, e-peciallv in the Dominion. Endeavor to avoid being in a position where likely to be called upon. Do not po unless personally satisfied that our presence i» necessary to avoid bloodshed. The Admiralty finds great difficulty in believing that such conditions exist. Mr. Joynson Hicks asked if a commander should sail away if he thought ko might be called to assist. Mr Churchill stated thai it had long lueu the Admiralty's policy to disentangle the navy as far as possible from civil disputes. ■Mr. Joynson Hicks: If a colony requested a battleship and the officer thought he might possibly'he asked to assist, should he sail? Mr. Churchill: These matters call for tact *nd discretion.