MERCHANT SERVICE WAGES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13908, 6 December 1910, Page 7

MERCHANT SERVICE WAGES.

AWARD | IN THE AUSTRALIAN CASE.

NEW SCALE OF PAYMENTS

OVERTIME TO BE PAID

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

(Received Dewmbor 6th, 12.35 a.m.)

SYDNEY, December 5

In the Federal Arbitration Court today Mr Justice Higgins delivered judgment in connection with the Merchants' Service Guild case. Ho mado an exhaustive comparison of the rates of pay existing in the English and Australian services, and compared wages in reference to the purchasing power of actual money received in countries where officers lived. By this process he arrived at what he considered a fair minimum of £150 a year as necessary for officers' subsistence and education, and £30 as representing the value of officers' keep on board.

Mr Justice Higgens mado £10 a month the minimum for fourth and fifth officers, tho wages rising gradually to masters according to tonnage and character of tho vessel on which they are engaged, to £43 a month.

Mr Justice Higgins made reference to tho Union Company's strict regulations and requirements for offioers, remarking that in all grades the qualifications demanded exceeded those of the Board of Trade. No doubt these qualifications were very excellent, but tlie Company would have to pay.

The award, which is to be argued tomorrow as to the details, has been practically left in tho hands of his Honour by the parties. It prescribes practically an eight hours day ashore and afloat, and regular periods of leave for officers while in home ports extending from twenty-one to twenty-eight days yearly for masters, and fourteen days for officers.

His Honour held that port pilotage exemption should be included as a qualification for a master. Every master and officer should be entitled to absence from his vessel at tho homo port from one hour after vessel was safely berthed to two hours before tho time fixed for sailing. Overtime rates in port are:—Mastors five shilings, officers half-a-crown an hour. The following are the- minimum monthly rates to be paid in inter-State vessels' —

In all cases fourth and fifth officers are to receive a minimum wage of £10. The Guild asked, among other things, that the salaries of masters on passenger vessels be from £26 to £50 per month, according to tho classification of their ships, and masters of cargo vessels £25 to £39 per month; when not victualled on tho ship master to bo allowed 10s per day. A special allowance for the purpose of covering the incidental expenses connected with a master's position ranging from £2 to £4 a month, was asked for. Increases in salaries of other officers were also requested, Mr W. G. Lawrence, secretary of the Guild, in opening the case, said that since the last award the cost of living had increased, and the position of junior officers had become practically unbearable. Many of the officers were not able to meet the ordinary cost of living. Junior officers were earning something like 6d per hour, and the present rate was up to about Is 5d per hour for chief officers. As to captains the minimum rate of pay in the P. and O. Company was £400 per annum. Officers there started at a salary where tho captains before the Court left off.

Passenger Chief 'Second Third, vessels. Master. Officer. Officer. Officer. .000 tons and under .. £25 £16 £13 £11 Jnder 2000 tons .. £-28 £17 £14 £12 Jnder 3000 tons .. £32 £18 £15 £12 Jnder 4000 tons .. £37 £19 £10 £13 .vcr 4000 tons .. £43 £20 £17 £14 3argo vessels. Jnder 1000 tons .. £24 £15 £12 £11 Jnder 2000 tons .. £27 £16 £13 £12 Jnder 3000 tons .. £30 £17 £14 £12 Jnder 4000 tons .. £33 £18 £15 £13 )ver 4000 ton. .. £36 £18 £15 £13