MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 279, 23 November 1921, Page 7

MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD

RATING OF MASTERS. EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION. The secretary of the Auckland' Merchant Service' Guild, Air. Vincent A. Jiydcr, gave some further particulars this morning on the matter of "Mercantile Retrenchment," which was tbe subject of an article that appeared in last evening's "Star." He said that correspondence concerning this niatted had passed between the Merchant Service Guild and the Union Steamship Company.

Referring to the statement that "Under the company's agreement-with the Merchant Service Oail'.f, n captain who has held command of a vessel for more than six conpecutive months is entitled to remain at that rate, of pay even if lit is required to occupy a subordinate position," and that "Tha Union Company wished to waive this condition, < which, by the way, expires at the end of the month pending a new agreement, but the agreement has not been waived." Mr. Ryder Siliil that the Merchant Service Guild wish to point out that on September 2(i the representatives of the Union Coin-, pany met the guild for the purpose of discussing the present depression in shipping. Captain McDdmUtt stated that tM company wished to treat-their servants in an honourable manner, andthat, to the present state of depression in the shipping trade they would be compelled to reduce their stalV. It was not flic dosire of the company to reduce the wngvs, hut a clause in the agreement of the masters prohibited them from reducing the tiafl' in the manner they considered just. The agreement states:

"That after a master has lioen six months continually in one rating lie sliull continue t<> rt-i-eive that rate of pay, unless rlifratod :" anil this was the stumbliu" block.

If tl»- il;;ii.-v mentioned is to be. adhered to. it would mean that masters would lie given :i month's notice, as the company was not goin;; to disrate them. Wn the other hand if the guild would agree to waive Uiis clause then the company would !«■ live tv reduce their staff iv :i moru cjuiti.ble mauncr. TEMPORARY DISRATIXG. On September :jw a meeting of the Merchant Service d'uikl was held to consider the proposal made by the Union Steamship Company. It was decided that there seemed to bo no necessity to suspend the clause, and a letter from the Merchant Service Uuild to the. I'ninn Company stated that: — "\yiien our agreement was made no provision was rmide for a period of depression such as we are passing through now," so that the guild was of the opinion that the word --disrated' , could he used without causing any trouble, so long as it was explained that, owing to the present depression, a master was temporarily disrated, and this would be acceptable" to the guild. It was further suggested to the Union Company that, as the guild's agreement had hut a short period to run, it was thought better if the Union Company Could see their way clear to adopt the suggestion of the guild, which is in accordance witli the wording of the agreement. A reply was received from tin- Union Company to the effect that tftby noted the (iuild's suggestions as to tin - manner in which the iiit'essury reductions can be effected, and us it 'attained tlio tamo rosiilt us the proposal originally made the I'nion Company are i|uite agreealile to it, further- expressing thanks to the guild for the consideration given to their proposal. It'will be seen from the above that the guild lias, and is, unite in accord with the desire of the Union Company to allow the temporary disratcment of a master. Conditions in Wellington so far as masters and oflicers are concerned arc by no moans good, owing to the. number of Union Company boats being out of commission, but a little time should see some readjustment and a gradual l<ctterment of conditions. Tlie members of the Auckland Merchant Service Guild have not been atrcetcd to a great degree with unemployment, as there have been comparatively few local coasting boats out of commission, and the general trend of events would seem to point very clearly to it general briakenir.g up of conditions.