COOKS AND STEWARDS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 65, 14 September 1926, Page 9

COOKS AND STEWARDS

THE EMPLOYERS' SIDE,

The hearing of the New Zealand Cooks and Stewards* Union's dispute with the Union Steamship Company was continued by the. Arbitration Court yesterday, when evidonce was heard from the men's side. To-day the employers' case' -was heard. Messrs. E. Kennedy and W. Walsh appeared on behalf of the Cooks and Stewards' Union, and Messrs. W. G. Smith, G. Norman, and H. Whyte for the Union Steam Ship. Company. His Honour Mr. Justice Frazer presided, and there were with him on the Bench Messrs. A. L. MonteithandW. Scott. , The evidence called by Mr. Kennedy, said Mr. W. Smith, was practically a replica of that given in the hearing of the last dispute prior to the granting of the award, and dt had advanced no reasons for altering the existing award. Dealing with the demand two hour break .before time off is to be counted, he said it would affect attention to passengers. The wages demanded represented in most cases an increase of £2 3s 4d over existing award rates, said Mr. Smith. Australian wages could not be taken as a basis for settlement in New Zealand. The Australian Court had already given very large increases. In 1914 a second grade steward got £4 a month, to-day £12 6a Bd, on increase of 208.3 per cent. Taking the basic rato fixed in 1915 by Mr. Justice Stringer, £6 10s for a second grade steward, an 89:7 per cent, increase was shown, far in excess of any increase in the cost of living. The union was entitled to no increase at all, as increases had brought wages far above 60 per cent, over the 1914 standard.

The hours claims were the same as in 1922 and 1924, with an exception as regarded ■ passenger ships. • An eight hours' day was not feasible in the providore department aboard ship, as it would mean that the men would be paid overtime for ordinary; duties. - . (Proceeding.)