ON THE LOWER DECK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 7

ON THE LOWER DECK

THE NAVY MEN'S CASE FOE BETTER PAY. The lower , deck societies of the Boyal Navy, through their committee, recently issued an appeal for the redress of certain grievances, the existence of which they believe was not realised by the mass of the nation. They aeked that— The pay of all ratings- be increased as follows:—- _ Iβ. per. day to leading seamen and higher ratings; 9d.. pet day. to lower ratings; Gd. per day to boys. The entry of civilians in ranks and higher ratings to be stopped immediately, and opportunity given to active service men semng to fill future vacancies, the civilians, if required, being' entered in lower ratings. Hospital stoppages to'be abolished. Tho payment of pensions, to be made to men who have completed their 22 years of service since August 2, 191-1-, with retrospective effect. In commenting on the men's requests the "Daily News" naval ..correspondent points out that practically every class of workers in civil' life have received a bonus, or bonuses, designed to compensate them for the increased cost of food 'and clothing. . The prevalent idea that the cost of living does not affect our seamen is quite incorrect. The official ration, inadequate in peace, is still more so now, owing to the. more exhausting conditions of service; but instead of being increased it has been reduced. Canteen prices have advanced at sea quite as much as ashore, with the result that men are spending from two to four times as much upon food as tfcey were three years ago. The wear and tear upon out-, fit has increased, and tho prices have gone up from 2o to 50 per cent., or more —all of which the seaman has to meet out of his pay.- Moreover, thousands c-I the families of long-service seamen live in naval and' dockyard towns, where prices are inevitably affected by the los. bonus which dockyard workmen have received. Nothing whatever has been done to improve matters in the question .ot promotion, and week after week men are bein" "iven commissions straight from tho shore, while every opportunity for advancement is withheld from.the trained, long-service men ot the i\avy itself No amount of recommendation from officers afloat serves to break; down or weaken the Admiralty prejudice on. this matter, and neither gallantry m action nor professional merit weighs witn the authorities ono atom.