CONCILIATION FAILS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1100, 12 April 1911, Page 4

CONCILIATION FAILS.

CLAIMS OF THE MERCHANT SERVICE PAY AND CONDITIONS, REFERRED TO ARBITRATION. Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, presided at a mooting of the representatives respectively of the -Merchant Service Guild and the New Zealand Shipowners' Federation yesterday, when a short but fruitless discussion took place on the subject of the claims of the Merchant Service for an award governing the rates of pay and conditions of service of masters and officers. Captain Watson (secretary), and Captains Clunie and Gibson (assessors) represented the guild, and Mr. William Pryor (secretary of the New Zealand Employers' Federation), Captain M'Arthur, and Mr. R. C. Rciincr (assessors) appeared for tho owners. Statement of Claims. Tho statement of claims submitted by tho Merchant Service Guild for discussion was as follows:— 1. The minimum rate of wages required to be paid to masters and officers of vessels owned or trading in New Zealand waters, if they are members of the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia:—Masters, £28 per month; chief officers, ilb per month; second officers, £14 per month; third officers, £12 per month. Wages to bo paid liiontnJy for vessels IuOO g.r. tonnage and under.

2. In each year every master and officer shall be entitled to leave of absence en full sea pay—the master to

;i continuous period of '■!& days, and fho officer to a continuous period of It days. Second and subsequent holidays to begin as from 12 months since tho previous one became due, and leavo to begin and end at tho masters' and officers' homo port. Proviso: If tho master or officer is discharged ho shall receive payment in lieu of tho holiday. ' • " 3. Every master and officer shall be entitled to bo absent from his vessel nt his homo port from the expiratiun of one hour after the ship has been safely moored or berthed, until two hours beforo departure. 4. Except as provided in Clause 3, every , master and officer shall bo liable to duty at any time, but not for a period exceeding hi each day eight hours. 5. The homo port of each officer shall bo stated in tho articles when the officer signs it, but may bo altered by tho officer by a written notice to the employer of not less than one calendar month. 6. If a master or officer be required to do duty in contravention of Glnuses 3 and -I, ho shall be entitled to overtime payment, the master at the rate of os. nor hour, and the officer at the rate of 2s. 6d. per hour. 7. At all times (except during leavo of absence), when meals are not provided for them nu board, a master shall receive a victualling allowance of 10s. per day, and an officer of as. per day. 8. When a master oi" officer is transferred from one shin to another he shall receive free transit for his family and effects to tho port at which ho desires to-reside, due notice, being given to the employer that he desires to change. 9. When a steamer runs an excursion on a public holiday overtime rates shall be paid. 10. Notwithstanding anything conto incd in the articles of agreement signed.'.'by the officers or the agreement signed with the master, when a master or officer has served, for three months on any ship or shins of the employer, tho service shall he ■ terminable only by a month's notice on either side. 11. Preference shall be given to members'of the guild. Ownsrs, Masters, and Officers. At the outset Mr. Pryor, for the federation, pointed out that most of the employers cited in the case were- owners of small vessels, although the claims of tho guild wore applicable to largo oceangoing vessels! It was impossible for the federation to discuss the claims on tho basis laid down by the guild, for the owners would not agree to an award covering both officers and masters.

Captain Watson pointed out that Mr. Justice Higgins, in tho Australian case, had made an award covering both masters Mid officers. The interests of these were identical, and right throughout tho world they were registered ' together. "This is only a quibble," asserted tho speaker. ■ ■■ ■

Mr. Pryor replied that the owners considered that tho interests of masters and officers wero not identical. "The interests of owners and masters aro identical," he contended. "You have not shown th.it by your treatment of the masters," retorted Captain "Watson. Mr. Pryor reiterated his point that his sido could not discuss tho merits of tho claims so long as tho masters wero coupled with the officers. He suggested that if the guild would agree to refer to the Arbitration Court the claims of tho masters, tho owners would bo prepared to discuss those of tho officers. "Arc masters members of the guild?" inquired Mr. Hally. "Yes," replied Captain Watson. "We aro a registered society, aJid tho two must be taken together." "Has there been a general desire expressed by the masters that they should bo included?" pursued tho Commissioner. "Yes," replied Captain Watson. Mr. Pryor at this juncture explained that there had previously existed a Shipmasters' Association in Wellington, hut it was now defunct, and its lato members had since joined the Merchant Servico Guild. There had previously been an understanding between the owners and the old Shipmasters' Association as to rates of. pay. "We Cannot Do It." Mr. Hally then turned to Captain \\atson. "Then you decline to proceed on behalf of tho officers only?" ho asked. "Wo cannot do it," replied Captain Hatson. ■ .

Mr. Pryor said that the owners had no objection to an award for the masters, but insisted that they should bo a separate organisation. The point was—and it was the most important one in the whole disputo—that the owners did not consider it conducive either to good discipline- on hoard ship or to the best interests of the employees for the masters and ollicers to be members of tlie same organisation. He thought that the simplest way would be to refer the caso to the Arbitration Court. Captain Watson pointed out that two separate organisations—one for masters and the other for officers—were not in existence at present. . "It is quite easy to make them exist, '_ suggested Mr. Pryor. "No—it is not," replied Captain Watsou. 'The masters are so few in number that the expense of maintaining a separate, organisation would be far too heavy. In all parts of the world they are in one body. The Union Company has agreed to that point." "Has it agreed?" asked Mr. Pryor. "Well," explained Captain Watson, "it notified to a deputation of masters and oliicers that it would meet us."

Mr. Pryor said that the federation's objection to the masters and officers being in the same organisation would bo removed if there were no question of an award for the masters.

Captain Watson, replying to a ques-tion,-said that the proportion of masters to oliicers was about as three to unci

"The masters ni'o practically controlled by the officers, ,, contended ,Ur. Kenner. "Oh!—that is an absurdity," retorted Captain "Watson. Alter further discussion, Mr. Pryor suggested that as lioth sides had liow expressed their views, the matter might be referred to the Arbitration Court. His side was rjuite prepared to abide by the Court's decision. This was agreed to, and the conference rose.