LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
CONTINUITY OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SEAMEN [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In your issue of September 5th you observe, in reference to the recent seamen's strike, that justice will not be done until all reputable shipowners give " continuity of employ- ment " to their seamen. Commenting on this in the Spectator of September 19th, a correspondent objects that " all ships engaged in foreign trade are required by law to pay -oft their crews at the termination of each voyage, so that it is not prac- ticable to give continuity of employment." Perhaps you will allow an old seafaring reader of the Spectator to point out that paying-off the crew at the end of a voyage, although, of course, it breaks the " continuity " of the ship's articles, does not in any way legally prevent the crew from returning to the ship immediately after signing-off, and continuing in employment on weekly wages until the ship signs-on again. The " law " that militates against this arrangement is not enacted in Parliament. It is the unwritten law of parsimony in the code of the shipowner, possibly fortified by the " homeward-bound " seaman's love of liberty and recreation—with a whole voyage's " pay-day " in his pocket.—I am, Sir, &c., 39 Mortimer Road, Kensal Rise, N.W.
THOMAS CARR.
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