"THE ROAD TO RUIN."

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 5

"THE ROAD TO RUIN."

SKIPS' OFFICERB AND THE STRIKE. Under the heading of "The Road to Ruin," the Dolphin, the magazine of the Imperial Merchant Service Guild (which represents the captains and navigating officers of the British mercantile marine), in its October issue, published a warning against the effects of the seamen's strike. "A vicious and diabolical attack," it is stated, "has been made by means of Communists and their propaganda the world over to destroy all the good influences which have existed in the merchant service among the different ciasses of seafarers, from the highest to the lowest. . . . These good influences which have existed have, of a certainty, served the best interests of employers and employees alike. . . Even among the executive officres of the mercantile marine within the last few years there have been signs here and there of an inclination to uproot the existing order of things. wh'crey many have followc dthc lead of a few misguided people in endeavouring to cripple organisations like Ine guild—organisations which even then cannot, and do not, deny have for years past been staunch and true to the interests they represent, and have been responsible for immense improvements and reforms of many evils which hitherto obtained. . . .In the course of the present trouble the position of the representatives of the masters and officers of (lie National Maritime Board and of the masters and officers themselves has been more than obvious, and that is, to adhere loyally to the agreements which have been arrived at on the Board, just as much as the shipowners are expected, as a matter of course, themselves to conform to these agreements, and to see that they arc carried out." j