LURE FOR SEAMEN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11175, 7 April 1930, Page 3

LURE FOR SEAMEN

SAILORS’ CLUBS FINANCED BY SOVIET. HOTBEDS OF PROPAGANDA. Clubs for the use of .seamen and waterside workers are being financed by the Soviet Government. "The officers in charge of them visit the ships in port and invite officers and crew to the clubs which are stated to be hotbeds of revolutionarc propaganda. . , , ~ „ According to advice received by the Rev. H. K. Vickery, chaplain to the Flying Angel Alission to Seamen, the Soviet Government in Russia has recently opened and financed institutes for visiting seamen in various parts of Russia and are responsible lor others at ports outside the Russian Republic. One noted institute is m an important port in a British Dominion. , T , „ ■ Tliese institutes, known as International Clubs for seafarers and waterside workers, are based on methods used in the Missions to Seamen’s Institutes throughout the wot Id There is this notable exception, that religion play’s no .pnrt m the work, but is openly ridiculed and mocked a An officer is in charge of the clubs and in many cases he is one who ha* sailed in British ships. H e invites visiting crews to make use of t-ne C * , The British seaman is specinllv catered for, with the intention ot making him dissatisfied with his commons. “Show” ships flying Soviet Ha" are pointed out and conditions aboard for the crews are said to be. ideal.' . . . The literature m the clubs is m R.uss'an and English and is of the deepest “red” dye Tlio walls confain charts of statistics showing the nrek-ar nosit'on of tl.o “slave” and the capitalist; others show the “s ave” climbing to a higher position in the social world till he becomes the ruler of labour and commerce. The only other pictures are cartoons drawn to make religion and English customs look ridiculous. Last month a steamer was m Auckland. '.vflrcb had recently* been to Russian ports. Officers and crew accepted the invitation to visit the International Club rooms, and also saw someth’ng of Soviet rule during the : r stay in port. Tim propaganda, however, failed to win them over and they exoressed the opinion that r crv few British seamen would care !■„ serve ou a ship living the Soviet Warr though they were aware that eocdit/oiis - OP many ships Lyme the British ensign leave much uO be desired. ;