"JACK TAR ASHORE"

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13005, 6 January 1908, Page 6

"JACK TAR ASHORE"

Wo are not surprised to learn that the rowdyism of a number of man-o'-wars-men on leave in Christchurch towards tho end of last week, has met with general disapproval among their comrades, who aro naturally afraid lest they should be looked upon as all being "tarred with tho same brush." A correspondent on board ono of the vessels, signing himself "A LMsgustod Sailor," writes to, us expressing this view. We think, however, ho and his fellow-seamen can make their minds quito easy on this score. We have had a good many of his Majesty's ships in our harbour from time to time, ,and tho conduct of tho men as a rulo has been most exemplary. In tho present instance to tho contrary, tho misconduct has been confined to a moro handful of men, out of tho hundreds belonging to tho warships in port, and for them thero is tho excuse of "tho season," even though that cannot ho admitted as a palliative of thoir conduct in interfering with tho comfort of the general public. Still, the people of Christchurch aro not going to commit the injustice of looking askanco at the Jack Tars as a body, because a few of their number forgot themselves when ashore at holiday timo. Everybody knows that tho Navy has immensely improved in the matter of sobriety ond general good conduct of the men during recent years, and certainly tho seamen who havo visited the Dominion in his Majesty's ships are, speaking generally, a credit to tho naval service.