PAY OF SHIPS’ OFFICERS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25160, 16 April 1947, Page 5

PAY OF SHIPS’ OFFICERS

EXAMPLES GIVEN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 15. Commenting on the statement published by the secretary of the Merchant Service Guild (Captain W. R. Williams), in which a comparison is made between the wage scales of English and New Zealand vessels to the detriment of the latter, the secretary of the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation (Mr G. H. Norman) stated that the matter was one of fact and his federation did not agree with the guild. “The secretary of the guild appealed to have omitted from his figures the war risk money of £l2 a month which was being paid on New Zealand vessels. War risk fnoney was no longer payable in British vessels, and the British wage rates had been adjusted coincidentally with its abolition,” said Mr Norman. For general information, the actual earnings on typical New Zealand coastal vessels are as follows: '

Mr Norman said these figures were for the 12 months ended December 31, 1946. Since that date maritime officers had been awarded a 40-hour week, with the effect of increased overtime rates and earnings. Each master and officer was “found” on board, was allowed 108 days per annum free of duty, annual leave of 21 days and 14 days respectively, and substantial sick leave as might be necessary, all on full pay.

The federation desired to avoid a newspaper controversy, said Mr Norman, but considered it was important to avoid a misconception by the public of New Zealand conditions.

1st 2nd 3rd Master officer officer officer £ £ £ £ Passenger vessel 1200 750 720 620 Cargo vessel 975 640 545 475 West Coast collier 830 699 555 —