IMPATIENT "DIGGERS."

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16520, 12 May 1919, Page 6

IMPATIENT "DIGGERS."

DISSATISFIED WITH DELAYS)

RIOTING AT SLING

(FROM OCR OWX COHRESrOOTKNT.) LONDON. March 27. Tho reputation which the N.Z.EJ*. has enjoyed throughout the war for orderly behaviour got a slight set-back at tho eleventh hour by reason of th» riots which occurred at Sling a days back. When the first ships wero placed at the disposal of tho force for demobilise, tion there was not a littlo difficulty in filling them. It was tho policy of the

demobilisation schemo to send first Uia men who had been longest away from home, and this was put into practice as far as possible. Somo difficulty was experienced, however, in filling the earlier boats with long-servico moo. Theso had not all been concentrated in England, to begin with, and somo of thoso who wero hero wero ansious to enjoy a little more life, and sec* more of the country before returning home. Consoquontlv, vacancies were often filled up wit'll men of later classification rather than allow tho transports to go nut empty. This was no grievanco to tho long-service men. On tho contrary, it was generally a satisfaction to them to remain a littlo longer here.

Rut tho position was quite changed when, owing to strikes in England, it was found impossiblo for somo weeks on end to despatch any the vessels which were allotted to New Zealand. Before the strikes wero over there was such a considerable concentration of men here that one or two new camps had to be opened to accomincH date them, and long before the despatch of ships could be resinned tho men in camp hero, wero bocoming noro impatient. Most of thorn had already had their leave, and did not command any great resorye of monoy to go again on indefinite leavo. They also chafed a good deal at tho routine exorcises which wero neccssarv so long as tliey wore kept in camp, and thero was a considcrablo amount of dissatisfaction, moreover, at tho education scheme being applied, as the men thought, in a compulsory form. Another of the grievances, which was soon expressed, was tho injustice of marriod men being given priority of embarkation over long-service men. There had boon a great number of marriages lately and, as a matter of convenience, it had been desired to got the married couples out of tho country at tho earliest possible moment. In practica this meant that quito a number of men who had only recently come oversoa, by contracting marriages in England •were at onco put at tho head of tho list for repatriation. The concentration depot at Torquay has boon filled for some timo with mnr-ied 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 —wore about to sail from Liverpool. Drafts had already been designated at Brocton to fill these ships, and the men wero roady to entrain when the discontent at Sling broko out. Rioting continued there for some hours, in the course of which damage estimated at about £10,000 was dono to tho hutments, institutes, and stores. At one stage the bulk stores were broken into, and spirits which were seized by tho men increased the violence of the riot. Evory effort was made by Brigadier-General A. E. Stewart to calm the disturbance at an oarly . stage, but the authority of the officers, owing to the circumstances, was temporarily in abeyance. General Stewart told the men that most of tho grievances which they had allogod wero )£> alroady being dealt with by the ities, and advisod them to Bond a small i" deputation to lay their case beforo the General Officer Commanding, Briga-dier-General C. W. Melvill, in London. Next dav order was completely re* stored, ani tho camp routine wont on as before, except that certain of the more irksome duties were abandoned. Tho British Press, fortunately, has not taken a great deal of notice of the outbreak.

Thero is a *good deal of sympathy with tho N.Z.E.F. Ivor tlio occurrence, The men having boen awny from horn® for po long were naturally disappointed at being kept in camp week by week when the fighting was over. Camp conditions at any time are unploasant, but since' the war ended tho life at Sling has been robbed of tho one interest that mado it bearable during the fighting. Tho whole trouble is due, of course, to tho strikes, which haro lield up shipping. If the demobilisation scheme had not been interrupted nil these camps would havo been steadily emptied, and even the mea who wore last on the rota would have felt loss 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 contro of any size near, and the interests there are not too many. m Tho new camp at Sutton Coldfield u highly spoken of by those who aro fortunate to bo there, while 'there are numerous important and interesting centres within easy reach, so that the men have not time to feel dull.