"TACT AND DISCRETION."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 18, 26 February 1914, Page 7

"TACT AND DISCRETION."

WARSHIPS AT STRIKE TIME.

WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW ZEALAND.

ADMIRALTY'S POULCY.

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS.

jly Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright. (Received February 26, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, February 25. Mr Arthur Henderson, MJE\, asked whether during the strike at .Christchureh, the Psyche and Pyrainus men were paraded with fixed bayonets, and with their guns trained on the wharves and their searchlights used to aid the strike-breakers. , The Rt. Hon. "Winston Churchill replied; that the Psyche and Pyramus were present at one period of the dispute. He did not have the exact information, but .any measures adopted had only been at the express Request of the' responsible Government of the Dominion. , , \ The Admiralty's position was explained in a telegram sent to the Senior; Officer in New Zealand on October 26 as" follows: — "Admiralty's policy is to avoid all Mterferdnce iiit labour disputes, especially, in the Dominions. E!u- v deavour to avoid being m a position where likely to be called upon and do not go unless you are ; personally satisfied that your pre-, sence is necessary to avoid bloodr shed;: - The Admiralty finds difficulty- in believing such* eondU tions exist, ' ' Mr Joynson Hicks asked if the Com-, mander-should sail away, if he thought he might be called on to assist. Mr Churchill stated that it had long 'been tljg Admiralty's policy to disen--1 tangle'the Navy as far as possible from divil. disputes. Mr Joynson Hicks: If a polony requested the presence of a, battleship, and an officer thought that pjossibly he might be asked to assist, should he sail away? , Mr Churchill: These matters call for tact and discretion.