STORY OF THE REDUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1925, Page 5

STORY OF THE REDUCTION

NEGOTIATIONS DESCRIBED

CUT APPROVED BY PROPER

AUTHORITY.

(UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPXRIQHT.) (AUSrRAUAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 25th August.

Mr. Henson, assistant . secretary of the Seamen's Union, in an interview, emphatically denied the statements circulated in Australia that Mr. Havelock Wilson had agreed to the reduction in wages behind the backs of the seamen, also that another reduction of £1 a month was impending in September.

Detailing the history of the negotiations, Mr. Henaon explained that the shipowners had agreed to an increase of £1 a month in September, 1924, in anticipation of improved freights. These anticipations were not realised, and shipowners had individually approached the union this year, proposing reductions varying from £2 to £4 per month. The unions refused, and the individual proposals were referred to the Shipowners' Federation.

After protracted negotiations, the shipowners agreed to the £1 reduction, which was then referred to the Maritime Board. There, where it was considered by panels, including seamen, firemen, and stewards respectively, by whom it was accepted. It was subsequently adopted by a delegate meeting, representing seventytwo branches, and the agreements were binding for a year, unless mutually varied. Therefore the reported further reduction in September was a ly-

ing canard.

The present ocen-going rates were 84 per cent.' above pre-war, whereas ■ the cost of living had increased only 72 per cent.; therefore, the nwn were only 14 per cent, better off than before the war, thanks entirely to the efforts of the union, which represents 90 per cent, of the maritime workers. The British wages were now twice those of Continental seamen, even after the recent reduction, yet Australia was penalising British ships, whila they were not molesting foreign.

With reference to the allegation that the British seamen now in Australia were not consulted, Mr. Henson explained that they were never above 25 per cent, of members ashore at one time in Britain, and the members were therefore dependent on the branches to represent the absent 75 per cent. This happened in 1924, when £1 a month increase was granted. The total membership was seventy thousand, including twelve thousand stewards, of whom

sixty thousand were financial.

The shipowners, Mr. Henson said, undertook to restore the reduced poundwhen freights improved. The Australian strike was calculated to seriously delay improvement.