BOARD OF CONCILIATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9813, 24 August 1897, Page 6

BOARD OF CONCILIATION.

(PR.X.S3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND, August 23.

The Board of Conciliation, coiupiising the Rev. G. Burgess and Messrs John Fawous, A. H. Lucas, J. J. Holland and J. M. Shera, is sitting to hear a dispute between the Auckland branch of the Federated Seao.en.' Onion and the Northern Steamship Company • Alexander McGregor, owner of the Kiaora and Rose Casey ; Captain Shaw, of the Terranora ; Leylaiul and O'Brien, owners of the S.ella; and Captain Braidwood, of the s.s. Akaroa. The Union ask for an increase of 10s per month in the wages of lamp trimmers, able seamen, ordinary seamen, boys and other employees (excepting officers) engaged on deck; overtime at the rate of ls per hour between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. ; crews of vessels leaving ports on Sundays or holidays to receive not less than 4s per man ; when excursions are run on Sunday the whole crew to be paid overtime, not to exceed 8s nor less than 4. per man ; an increase of 30s per month for firemen, greasers, &2., engaged in the engine room and stokehole, who work six hour watches ; the discontinuance of time off instead of overtime, aud pay for five statutory holidays in the year. Mr Fawcus suggested that the decision of the Board should be accepted as final, without reference to the Court. The suggestion was not agreed to, but each side is to have the right of appeal. The case of the Northern Steamship Company was first taken. Mr Belcher stated that the regulations adopted by the Union Steamship Com pany are quite in the direcciou the men wished to go, and as to river and coasting steamers the rules and pay were prevailing in Southern ports. The concessions offere :l by certain representatives of the shipowners were withdrawn before the case was cone into.

From the evidence it appeared that the Northern Steamship Company had offered an advance o£ 10s per month. Captcin McGregor had done the same; Messrs Leyland and O'Brien offered the same, and stated that, in doing so, they would be paying 30a per month more than some other steamers trading out of the same port. AU of these offers have been rejected.