LATE MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 September 1938, Page 7

LATE MESSAGES

DREDGE ’S VOYAGE. [per press association.] -WELLINGTON, September 6. “We’re all darn glad to get here,” said the mate of the Kerimoana, F. W. Simpson, to-day, and the way the rest of the crew confirmed it left no room for doubt. They were sick of her, and would be glad to get off. “The long voyage, cramped space and the monotony had depressed them all,” said Mr Simpson, “but the men stood up to it well, and were a good bunch.” . The general opinion was the Tasman was the worst stretch of water on the whole voyage, although they had a hard time just after they left the Clyde. The outstanding incident was on the leg from Colombo to Sourabaya, when a B|utch cruiser crossed within thirty feet of the dredge’s bow. She was with other ships doing manoeuvres, and by rights should have given way to the dredge, but kept on, and a. collision seemed inevitable.

Alongside the wharf, she looks very like one of the fishing trawlers. She is 104 feet long, and 92 tons. Most of the men now forming the crew will remain in New Zealand if they can find employment.

TRADES UNION CONGRESS. LONDON, September 5. Opening the Trades' Union Congress at Blackpool, Mr H. Eivin, in his Presidential address, declared that the three great issues—democracy or fascism, peace or war, and socialism or capital—were all linked. If the ’Powers, including Britain, had not betrayed their trust when Germany marched into the Rhine, the world would have been saved for democracy. Ho denounced Japanese aggression and air massacres in China, condemned the rape of Austria, and added: “Is> Czechoslovakia to be next? If not, why have not Britain, France anl Russia plainly told Germany that she must off the grass?” He added that this bravo democracy must not be thrown to the wolves. No pressure must be brought on the Czechs, to succumb to Germany’s ruthlessness. This may be Europe’s last chance to prevent another world war. Germany, owing to the outrageous expulsion of Jews, ought to lie outlawed, until she realises that barbarism does not pay. Before Germany presses the claims on behalf of minorities elsewhere, she should put her own house in order.