INCREASES SOUGHT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 79, 2 April 1924, Page 2

INCREASES SOUGHT

BY MARINE ENGINEERS

HAS THEIR STATUS IMPROVED?

Claims for increased wages were made at the Arbitration Court yesterday afternoon by the ■ Wellington blanch of the Marine Engineers' Institute. The dispute was recently before a Conciliation Council, and the only matters referred to the Court for decision were as to wages and medical examination.

Mr. Justice Frazer presided, and as.sociated with him were Mr. W. Scott and Mr. H. Hunter. Messrs. W. Sommerville and D. H. Sturrock appeared lor the institute, and the Union Company was represented by Messrs. W. G. bmith and j. Smith. J a ul'Sii'g that tho engineers were entitled to a 20 per cent, increase on 'existing rates, Mr. Sommerville pointed out that the marine engineer had never .been paid in accordance with the rospon-, sibilities which he was called on to undertake. Since October, 1922, when the present award was made, there had been, it seemed, an increase in the cost of living. However, it was not their intention to urge the cost of living, but to rely in the main on the skill and responsibilities .required of the engineers. It was further pointed out that to be a junior engineer going to,sea one had to' qualify as a fitter (that is, he must have served an apprenticeship of at least five yews), and the wage for the qualified httor between the years 1911-1913 was Is %d per hour, or £3 4s 7i,i for a week of 47 hours. The wage of the fitter to-day (lOjw-1924), with a 44, hour week, was 2s Ija per hour, or £« 14s 5d weekly. .This represented an increase of 46 per cent foV } Unior cn Silleei' between the years Ull-1913 was getting1-approximately £12 par month, and 46 per cent. (£5 10s) on this made £17 10s. As yet no allowance had been made for food. etc. This was assessed at £4: monthly.' This amount added to £17 10s made £21 10s, which was not equal to what the shore fitter was in receipt of (£22 6s 4d). From this it would appear that in 1911-1913 the junior engineer was not' getting recognition. At the present time his wage was not m keeping with the responsibilities and the services which he rendered to tho travelling public, nor was the remuneration sufficient to pay for the cost oi securing the certificate necessary for himto carry on the calling of his protessiou For many years "the technical know edge required of engineers on board ship had been steadily increasing. _ln putting forward the view of the Tjiuoii Company, Mr. W. G. Smith said that the employers were asking for a reduction of £2 3s 4d p er month, on the ground that sufficient credit had not been given to the employers for the value of the.food and accommodation supplied bmce the Court's award was made in 1922, said Mr. Smith, the wuges on United Kingdom vessels, which had then been reduced by :Ba 10s per month for chief engineers, £3 10s for second engineers, £6 10s for third en- ' gmeers £7 for fourth and junior engineers, had been reduced since April by a further £l 10s monthly. In United Knigdom vessels practically no overtime at all was paid, whereas the overtime payments in New Zealand were substantial. The institute in its proposals was asking for an increase of 20 per cent, on the existing rates, but on what ground this claim was based it was difficult to say. It could not be oir the cost of living, as there had 'been no increase in the cost of living which Would justify any in^f 6 '•" wnses' and at the hearing in 1U22 the- institute's representatives stated that they ajways concurred in the.suggestion that wages should rise orfall ?n accordance .with the rise or fall in the purchasing power of the sovereign." " From what was said at the Conciliation Council," Mr. Smith proceeded, "I gather that the institute considers that the status of engineers is not sufficiently recognised on the ground of the examinations which have to be passed by an engineer before a certificate as chief engineer can be obtained by him. Sinca the award was made there lias been no change, as far as I know, in the requirements of these examinations, and in any event if the examinations, have been somewhat stiffened up this has been done at the suggestion or request of the various engineering societies representing tho engineers, apparently with a view of preventing tho occupation beconiintr over-manned. This aspect was dealt with fully at the last hearing,, and as the Court has the shorthand, report of that case it is hardly necessary for me to occupy the time of the Court by again discussing the matter at length." His Honour intimated that the Court would announce its decision later.