SHIPS' OFFICERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 73, 28 March 1939, Page 10

SHIPS' OFFICERS.

COASTAL VESSELS. COURT ISSUES AWARD. WAGES AND TIME WORKED. I Important provisions covering hours and wages are contained in the Xew Zealand ships' masters and officers' (coastal shipping companies) award, which has been issued by the t'ourt of Arbitration. With the exception of wages, overtime and term, the award embodies, with minor alterations agreed to at the hearing, the recommendations arrived at by the assessors in conciliation council. In its relation to wages, the award is deemed to have come into force on February 17, but all the other conditions became effective yesterday. The award will be effective until March 27, 1941. The Court has fixed wages as follow: —Vessels of from 101 to 600 tons gross register: Master. £42 11/8 jn?r month: chief officer. £27 11/8: second officer. £23 11/S: third officer. £23 1/S. tiOl to 1000 tons: Master, £44 11/S; chief officer. £2S 11/S; second officer, £24 11/S; third officer, £23 1/S.

For vessels owned by parties in the northern industrial district the minimum rates are:—Vessels 251-600 tons gross, master £41 11/2. chief officer £27 1 second officer £23 11/S; 101-250 tons, master £40 S/2, chief officer £27 11/8, second officer £23 11/8; 51-100 tons! master £35 17/2; 30-50 tons, master £31 11/ S. It is open to the parties to make an agreement in regard to vessels under 30 tons register. For vessels employed in extend-d river limits, or principally in extended river limits, the rates are 5 per cent lower than the above classification.

The wages of masters of scows of over 51 tons will be £27. and between 30 aud 50 tons £25, with an allowance of £1 per week for food where such is not provided. Special allowances of £10 per month (over 100 tons) and £4 (under 100 tons) are to be paid to masters of the Xobel Explosive Company's vessels. Hours in Port. It is provided that every officer shall be liable for duty at any time at sea or in port. The time of dutv in port or at sea, or partly in port and partly at sea. shall not be more than eight hours in a day, exclusive of meal hours. In port the hours of duty are between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., but officers may be required to keep watches in port in an unsafe port, or where the vessel arrives in port and leaves again within 24 hours. Specific provision is made for the payment of overtime for all duty performed in addition to or outside of the ordinary hours of duty at the rate of 3/11 per hour. The award also defines the amount to be paid by the companies for victualling and accommodation, and provides for an annual holiday of three weeks for masters and two weeks for officers. Lnder certain conditions duty on Sundays and holidays is to be paid at overtime rates. A special section of the award applies to those vessels exclusively employed within the Auckland extended river limits, and which are engaged solely in passenger services, excursions and picnics, being the property of J. H. Bradney and Sons. Limited, Waiheke Pas<=en<*er Service. Limited, and the Duchess Steamship Company, Limited.