SHIP PAY SHEETS

Evening Star, Issue 25894, 11 September 1946, Page 9

SHIP PAY SHEETS

SEAMEN DRAW MORE THAN MASTER MARINERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 10. On many pay sheets in New Zealand it was invariably found that tho master was well down on the sheet, and for Some months able seamen. had drawn more than the master. This statement was made. to-day by Captain W. It. Williams in the Arbitration Court in putting the case for masters and officers in an application for a new award for members of the New Zealand Merchant Service Guild Industrial Union of Workers in New Zealand coastal service. The hearing followed an application, which was concluded . to-day, for an increase in remuneration and improvement in conditions for masters and officers in the employ of the Union Steam Ship Company, in which decision was reserved.

Referring-to the application for- an award for masters and officers in the coastal service. Captain Williams said that an anomaly had existed for a very long time in Tegard to wages For officers. Twenty-six years ago the chief officer .of a vessel from 601 tons to 1,000 tons received £27 6s 8d a month. To-day the same officer received £2B 11s Bd, a difference of £1 5s a month. Twenty years ago, a watersider received 2s an hour, while to-day he received 3s 5d an hour, which, plus bonuses at times, brought him up to 4s 6d an hour oil the average. Captain ‘Williams said he wished to make it clear that, although it was necessary that he should contrast the rate of remuneration of other sections of the maritime community, he. did not suggest that their remuneration was in the slightest degree too high. For the New Zealand Federated Shipowners, Mr G. H. Norman said that the award had not been before the court since 1939. As at that time, the

main matters for decision by the court now were in regard to wages and overtime, with the addition on this occasion of hours of duty and time off. which was complementary to hours of duty. A new clause, “ navigation bonus,” introduced into tlie claims by the Merchant Service Guild, was | linked with tlie wages clause, j. The hearing is proceeding.