MARINE DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 174, 25 July 1928, Page 8

MARINE DISPUTE.

CLAIMS OF OFFICERS.

WAGES INCREASES AND LESS HOURS. CASE BEFORE ARBITRATION COURT. ' Increases in wages, a reclassification of vessels, and the curtailment of hours of dutv were included in the demands made in connection with the Auckland Merchant Service Guild Industrial Union of Workers' dispute relating to the coastal trade which was ventillated in the Arbitration Court this morning. Opposing the claims were the Northern Steamship Company, represented by Captain R. C. Hammond, and smaller shipping interests, such as Messrs. J. J. Oraig, James Smith and Co., A. G. Frankham, Limited, and Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Cement Company, for whom Mr. S. E. Wright (secretary of the Employers' Association) appeared. Captain F. A. Macindoe and Captain B. Burk advanced the claims of the union, the wages clauses of which provided for increases in salary for masters from £25 10/ to £38 10/ a month at present to from £32 10/ to £41 10/ a month. Other variations were stipulated as follows (the existing rates of pay being mentioned in parentheses): Chief officers, from £23 10/ to £29 10/ (£24 10/ to £27 10/), and second officers from £23 10/ to £25 10/ (£2O 10/ to £23 10/). An eight hour day (exclusive of meal hours) with adequate compensation for overtime, was also sought. Masters Unfairly Treated. Captain Macindoe said that when the present Wellington agreement, which does not expire till January, 1929, was arrived at, the employees were able to convince the employers that the masters had been unfairly treated in the past, owing to officers having been granted a limitation of hours and weekly time off. But there was no compensation for the masters, with the result that in some cases, officers drew as much salary as their superiors, in addition to getting other considerations. The result of this argument was that the masters' wages were increased by £3, which was to compensate them for no limitation of hours and weekly time off. The same argument in conciliation in Auckland, however, did not prevail. Argument would be advanced by the employers that they were unable to pay higher wages, because of the keen competition that now existed with road and railway transport, but this was not sufficient to convince members of the guild that they were not entitled to the small increases they were asking. A certain number of the larger vessels were laid up, but auxiliary vessels were taking their place, carrying bigger cargoes, at less expense. A new clause in the proposed award related to extra payment for matters and officers, when they were called upon to do manual labour—a principal already recognised in the small 'boat award in Wellington, and by the Northern S.S. Company. Under the heading of hours and overtime the court was being asked to establish an eight hour day, the same as covered the seamen and all ratings in the Union S.S. Company's vessels. Captain Macindoe proceeded to criticise the unfairness of the present classification list, which it was desired should be reduced. At present there were eight different grades, with fourteen different rates of pay for the masters. It would appear that because one vessel carried ten tons more than another, that the master's wages should be altered accordingly. The only way to overcome this difficulty was to adhere to one class, and give one rate of pay. Extravagant Demands. Protesting against what he described as the extravagant demands of the guild, Captain Hammond said not only had increases in wages, ranging from £2 for officers and £3 for masters, been asked for, but a reclassification of the vessels had been made, which brought the increases up to as much as £5 a month. In addition to this the proposed curtailment of hours must result in the payment of more overtime. He submitted that the present award fixed two years ago provided fair and reasonable wages and conditions for the officers, and that, in considering the new claims, the Court should take the depression in the industry into account. Another factor was the competition that the coastal shipping had to meet from the railways. "I submit this competition is unfair; inasmuch as the railways are not profitably run. In spite of this loss, liow- , ever, preferential rates and cut freights are daily being given to take the trade away from the coastal vessels," added Captain Hammond. "The shipping companies are privately owned, and must earn expenses and interest on capital invested. If this is prevented by unfair rail competition, then the coastal services of the Dominion must gradually decre-ase and cease, leaving the men who at present find their livelihood in these vessels, to seek other employment, and destroying the training ground of seamen, which is so essential to the welfare of the Dominion." In face of these facts, he maintained that the present was no time to increase wages or alter the conditions of the award. Mr. S. E. Wright endorsed this argument and said that many of the small tessels cited in the proposed award had not previously been covered by an award. In spite of this, however, they were working under the same conditions as other vessels. Captain Macindoe said that the shipping companies had never given the employees a bonus in good times, and, therefore, could not expect them to forgo that to which they were entitled in bad times. Mr. G. T. Booth (employers' assessor): Has the Northern Company gone into the question of what the suggested increases will cost ? Captain Hammond: The demands were so absurd and so disgusting that it did not. The Court promised to consider the points raised by the parties and reserved rts decision.