Fijian Crew Given N.Z. Rates Of Pay

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29916, 1 September 1962, Page 10

Fijian Crew Given N.Z. Rates Of Pay

(New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, August 31. The Fijian crew of the South Pacific Shipping Company’s motor vessel Taranui, at present in Wellington loading timber for Sydney, have had their pay increased from £l5 a month to about £6O. When local waterside workers’ union officials learned of the wages paid to the crew of the Taranui they began negotiations which led to the Fijians being put on New Zealand rates of pay from 8 a.m. last Monday.

Mr P. V. Willis, president of the Nelson Waterside Workers’ Union, said that when loading began on Monday the crew told him they were working under Fijian articles at £l5 a month (about Is 8d an hour). He got in touch with Mr J. Roberts, general secretary of the South Island Waterside Workers’ Federation, in Wellington and asked him to advise Mr F. P. Walsh, president of the Seamen s Union. Subsequently, Mr Willis was informed by the chief officer of the Taranui—the master was on his way from Auckland—that the crew had

been placed on New Zealand rates of pay. On Tuesday, Mr Ryan, assistant-secretary of the Seamen's Union, arrived in Nelson. Captain F. A. Barrett, representing the Pearl Caspar Shipping Company, agents for the Taranui, with Mr Ryan, telephoned the owners of the Taranui in Auckland. They gave consent for the chief officer to sign papers agreeing to put the Taranui crew on New Zealand rates of pay and conditions while they are in the New Zealand trade. The South Pacific Shipping Company's Babinda. which was formerly engaged in similar trade, worked under New Zealand articles