MARINE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 160, 9 July 1890, Page 2

MARINE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION.

• THREATENED STRIKE.

SEAMEN'S UNION ADVISE DELAY.

The Marine Officers' Association of NewZealand and the Union Steamship Company have been carrying on lately a discussion as to the position of officers on board the Union Company's boats. The Officers' Association on the 26bh May demanded that the following should be considered an officer's duty: —To assist in the safe navigation of the ship. To see all cargoes, mails, and luggage be properly, received and stowed, and delivered as far as lies in his power, to the best interesb of his employers, but in no case is an officer to tally cargo in or out of a vessel,, or assist) in any manual labour ; that three officers at least shall be carried in every ship (where practicable), and that the eystera of three watches shall bo strictly observed; that the officer who has the first watch on tho veseel proceeding' to sea, more especially afr night, shall in the interest of all concerned, owners, passengers, drew, and bimself, have had four hours' watoh below previous to sailing. To consider and alter the accommodation as at present exists in some of the Company's ships for officers. That on the officers working late in the night provision shall be made for their obtaining refreshment. The following minimum wage shall be paid on and after the Ist June, IS9O, viz. :—Chief officer, £16 a month, with rising scale as per number of years in the Company's vice • second officer, £14 a month ; third officer, £12 a month ; fourth officer, £12 a m On June 26th and 27th the steamship owners of New Zealand held a meeting to consider this matter ; and after a discission with the Officers' Association, the latter submitted the following amended scale ot wages —Monowai, Mararoa, Robomanana, Tarawera, Waihora, Wairarapa, Manapouri, Tβ Kapo, Haurobo, Tβ Anau, Wakatipu, Arawaba, Ringarooma, Cairntoul, Pukaki, to carry three officers ab least. Bate of wages por month to be : Chief officer, £16 ; second, £14 ; third, £12. Takapuna, Rotoruaj Penguin, Brunner, Wanaka, Wainui, Hero, Ohau, Taupo, Rosamond, Dingadee, Omapere, Mawhera, Grafton, Mahinapua, Australia, Southern Cross to carry three officers ab least. The rate of wages per month to be : Chief officer, £15; second, £13; third, £12. "W'areatea, Orowaiti, Banks Peninsula, Maori, Oreti, Kauieri, Manutu, Moa, and Waihi to carry two officers (where practicable). Chief officer, £15; second, £13. The above scale of wages to come in force, Ist July, 1890. In reply, the Union Company's secretary, Mr George McLean, forwarded to the secretary of the Officers' Association, Mr Highman, information as to the rate of wages paid by the various Australasian steamship companies. Union Steamship Company, first officer, second officer, third officer, fourth officer, large boats, £15, £10, £7 ids. £6 respectively; small boabs", £12 to £14, h, £7 10s- A - U 'S-N.

Company, large boats, £14, £9, £8; email boats, £12, £9. H. Smith and Sons, £12 to £14, £10, £9. Adelaide Company, £14, £10, £8. Huddart, Parker, and Company, £13, £9. £8. Tasmanian S.N. Company, £14, £10. Demanded by the Officers' Association :—Large boats, £16, £14, £12 ; small boats, £15, £13, £12, with the addition that it shall be imperative for 32 steamers (named) to carry 3 officers. Time was asked for further consideration of the demands. At the same time it is pointed out that tho demands of the Association mean £6,000 a year increase to the expenses of the Company. The Secretary states that tho Union Company's officers are well paid, and there is great competition for the positions. The extra expense cannot be pufc on the travelling public. On July 7th Mr Highman informed the Chairman of tho Steamship Owners' Association that the Marine Officers' Association have considered the whole matter again, and unless the amended demands are complied with by tho 14th insfc. all officers sailing in New Zealand waters shall leave their ships. Mr McLean then wrote stating that he would publish the whole correspondence in order to give the officers an opportunity of knowing what had been done. The Maritime Officers' Association communicated with the Maritime Council asking what support might bq expected from the latter. The executive of the Seamen's Union replied as follow :—" Wo decline to be plunged into trouble before having ample proof that the demands refused are reasonable. Everyone considers the demands too numerous and large, and at once advise arbitration.—A. Milleh."