'Restrictive’ laws worry seamen

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33778, 26 February 1975, Page 7

'Restrictive’ laws worry seamen

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Increasing efforts “to impose restrictive legislative measures on seafarers in general, and New Zealand in particular,” are viewed with concern by British and New Zealand seamen. A joint statement by the general secretary of the British National Union of Seamen (Mr J. H. Slater) and the president of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union (Mr D. J. Morgan) voiced this concern after a week of meetings between the two bodies in Wellington. The two unions welcomed the setting up of the New Zealand Shipping Line and saw it as a vital asset to the nation. They recognised the need to consolidate their policies in those areas in which their problems were the same and agreed to assist each other in resolving them. WAGE LEVELS “Both organisations resolve to support each other’s efforts to protect safety standards, manning scales and wage levels in line with

l the requirements of the j 'lnternational Transport] i Workers’ Federation,” the! ■two men said. ! “They pledge to work imuch closer together to pro-! Itect the wages, standards! !and conditions of their own : 'members which are being 'threatened by the mass recr-! !uitment on an international! 'level of unskilled low paid! labour.” This had been made evident by the increase of casualties in the maritime industry, Mr Slater and Mr Morgan said. Recent inquiries confirmed that the highest mortality rate occurred in vessels with crews of flags of convenience. POLLUTION It was recognised that the ever-growing problems of world pollution and in particular that of the sea had been directly related to inadequate and inefficient manning, and the mercenary aims of certain unscrupulous employers and irresponsible administrations. , The N.U.R. is calling a conference in London next month to discuss the question of unskilled cheap labour. A number of seafaring countries, including New Zealand and Australia, will be invited to attend.