17 OCTOBER 1925, Page 20

CONTINUITY OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SEAMEN

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

SIR,—In your issue of September 26th, a correspondent, who describes himself as an old seafarer, attributes the non-con- tinuity of employment of seamen to the parsimony of the shipowner for not retaining the services of the crew while in port. It is quite customary to keep a few men employed, but under ordinary circumstances it is not practicable to find work for the majority, as your correspondent must know. To employ them, therefore, might be called philanthropic, but the reverse is surely not parsimonious.—I am, Sir, &c., Lagarie, Row, Dumbartonshire. J. A. BLACK.