MARITIME STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 181, 1 August 1919, Page 5

MARITIME STRIKE.

BASIS OF SETTLEMENT. ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE. RELEASE OF WALSH LIKELY. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, July 31. Although no statement has been issued regarding the progress of the seamen's negotiations with Mr. E. D. Millen, member of the Federal Ministry, it is understood that a possible basis of settlement includes the release of Walsh, the imprisoned secretary of the~ Federated Seamen's Council, and-an immediate summon ing of a round table conference at which Walsh shall be present, the seamen to resume work when the conference is actually sitting.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

OUT SHORT COMMONS. 'THREAT OF FAMINE IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, July 31. A shortage of sugar, salt, potatoes, and other foodstuffs is becoming acute in 1 Sydney. A local famine will arise in many lines unless the strike ends shortly. New Zealand has been sounded for supplies, but no freight is offering. The Jlakura is due on Saturday from Auckland. A statement is current in Seamen's Union circles that the crew will sign off. —(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

A statement issued by the Steamship Owners' Federation in Melbourne last week shelve that the wages now paid under the award of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration are £12 5/ per month for seamen and trimmers, £14 5/ per month for firemen and greasers, and £15 5/ per month for donkeymen. The work of the 6camen is not casual and intermittent, but constant. The seamen generally have no broken time, but, if they 60 desire, are employed year in and year out. The hours are fixed by the Court at eight per day, and all work done in excess of eight hours is paid for at overtime rates, viz., 2/ per hour. The amounts actually paid for wages and overtime vary from £130 to in some cases £2SO per annum. In addition To the actual wages paid, the seamen are provided with keep, which represents £.19 9/ per annum. The menus provided by the different companies vary somewhat, but the following may be taken as a fair average i example:—Sunday: Breakfast —Porridge and milk, steak and onions, curry and rice, potatoes, tea and coffee. Dinner — Vegetable soup, roast pork, vegetables, potatoes, plum pudding, tea. Tea— Haricot mutton, cold meats, jacket potatoes, scones and preserves, tea. Monday: Breakfast—Porridge and milk, mutton chops, Irish stew, and potatoes, tea and coffee. Dinner —Barley broth, boiled leg pf mutton, vegetables, potatoes, 6ago custard, tea. Tea —Hot pot, cold meats, and potatoes, preserves, tea. Monday's menu is a fair average sample of the menus varied on other week days. Sufficient quantities of butter, milk, and sugar are served twice daily. Pickles, i sauce, jam, and marmalade are served weekly.

The seamen are also entitled under the award of the Court to fourteen days' leave of absence on full pay in each year, in addition to which they have to •be allowed a day off or be given an extra day's payment if certain holidays are spent wholly at sea.

Although the Navigation Act has not been proclaimed, Australian shipowners have, since 1913, been observing its provisions in relation to the number of men to be carvicd in the stokeholds of each vessel on the coast.

Wages.—An additional 35/ is asked for, principally on the grounds that the fseamen on the British and American steamers are now in receipt of more money than the Australian seamen. On British and American vessels, however, the seamen employed on deck have to work 12 hours per day at sea, whereas the Australian seamen only work eight, and this gives the Australian seamen a much higher rate for time actually worked.

Seamen's hours in port are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., less two meal hours, representing eight working hours, which is the established custom for all industries throughout Australia.

Seamen on inter-State vessels are already covered by the Seamen's Com-1 yensation Act of 1011 for accidents resulting in injury or death, and the provisions of the same Act have been voluntarily accepted by the Australian shipowners as applying to vessels trading away from Australia, while in the case of inter-State vessels the respective | State Acts apply.