UNION “PLAYBOYS”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26479, 5 June 1947, Page 6

UNION “PLAYBOYS”

REPUTATION OF SEAMEN EXECUTIVE ISSUES WARNING DISCIPLINE FOR OFFENDERS Industrial Correspondent WELLINGTON, June 4. “Feather-brained playboys’’ in the union who get drunk and disgrace themselves and their fellows instead of behaving like responsible citizens are threatened with fines or expulsion by the executive council of the Federated Seamen’s Union of New Zealand The council has issued a statement warning members about their conduct on board ships. “It has again become necessary for the executive council to draw attention to the increasing number of cases of gross misbehaviour on board ships,” it says. “In almost every instance, the cause is excessive drinking. Surprisingly, a large proportion of the offenders are men who have been only a short time in the union. Some are still probationary members. It is immaterial,. however, whether the men concerned are new or old members. Continual drunken misbehaviour on the part of comparatively few constitutes an intolerable nuisance to the great majority of members, who prefer to act as responsible citizens rather than as feather-brained playboys. Members of long and honourable standing in the union have announced their intention of giving up seafaring rather than put up with the drunken antics of individuals who walk ashore when they please, leaving the others to do the work,- and who frequently turn thier living quarters into -filthy dens.

“Apart altogether from the annoyance and discomfort caused to decent unionists' there is also to be considered the damage that is carsed to the whole economy of the country through frequent delays to ships carrying urgently needed cargoes. On several occasions discomfort and hardships have been caused to thousands of fellow-workers and their families , at Auckland and Wellington when colliers have been delayed by irresponsible drunks. “Only a few of these incidents ever get into the papers but they are sufficient to damage the reputation of New Zealand seamen in the eyes of the public and provide ammunition for political opponents of Labour. “The executive council, at its last meeting decided to issue a warning to offenders that those who continue to misbehave in this manner will be dealt with either by fine or expulsion as provided by the union’s rules. The council further warns new members that there is no room in the ranks of this union for those whose actums would have the effect of breaking down our organisation and all that the seamen of this country have achieved through united organised effort.”