DISCONTENT AND UNREST

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 225, 21 June 1939, Page 8

DISCONTENT AND UNREST

It ista disquieting sign of the times that discontent in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy should have culminated in a large body of men on the cruisers Achilles, Leander and the depot ship Philomel refusing duty and walking off to hold a protest meeting. According to reports, those chiefly involved were New Zealand ratings dissatisfied with their pay. It is also stated that the Imperial ratings resent being called upon to pay the New Zealand Social Security tax. Whatever may be the merits of their protest, the manner of making it ill becomes the traditions of the Senior Service.

Ratings desiring to make complaints or representations concerning their conditions are very carefully safeguarded • under the Admiralty Regulations against victimization. In this particular instance it appears that the claims of the men were under consideration, and it can only be supposed, on the facts available, that their action in making a mass protest and refusing duty was an attempt to force the hands of the authorities. It is a regrettable affair, and prompts an uncomfortable feeling that there may be subversive elements at work to undermine the discipline of the Service. Taken in conjunction with what has been happening lately in civilian ■ occupations, there seems to be spreading throughout the country a spirit of discontent and unrest. There is discontent among the carpenters, among public works employees, among coal miners, and among the railways staff. Ministers are appealing to the unions to refrain from making fresh demands on industry, and urging them to increase production. The hard fact is that the Government has to deal with a psychology of discontent and agitation which is of its own creation when in opposition.