STEWARDS’ CLAIMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1929, Page 7

STEWARDS’ CLAIMS

ARBITRATION COURT HEARING. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 8. The hearing was commenced at the Arbitration Court in Wellington of a dispute between the Federated Cooks’ and Stewards’ of New Zealand Industrial Association of Workers, and the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Ltd., and others. Mr Justice Fmer occupied the Bench. Associated with him were Messrs G. T. Booth and A. L. Monteith, employers’ and employees’ repre-. sentatives respectively. Mr E. Kennedy appeared for the applicants, and Mr W. G. Smith for the respondents. The classification of workers -has been agreed to in the Conciliation Council, leaving the rates of pay unsettled. An alteration is required td the classification of assistant stewards (cargo) whose wages it is asked shall be the same as first grade stewards. The applicants also ask that cadets be paid on the following basis to bring wages into uniformity with those of the coastal company:—l7 years, £8 5s (present wage, £5/7/6); 17-19 years, £9/15/- (£7/17/6); 19-21 years, £lO/15/- (£9/2/6). It is asked that the lowest paid worker (steward) be given a wage of £4/15/-, and that overtime be paid for at the rate of 2/9 per hour. Chief among the other claims is an eight-hour day; an increase to 2/3 per hour for casual work on shore; the granting of Anniversary Day as a holiday; a maximum payment of 5s per hour for work on Sundays and holidays; a day off on shore for stewards for each Sunday at sea; and a half day holiday each week. Interpretation of the award as affecting the same parties was asked for.

The applicants said that on December 23 last, the Maori and Wahine, in accordance with the usual practice during the holiday period, ran daylight trips, and it was asked if such trips came within the clause of the award providing for Sunday rates of jpay. ' Mr Smith, for the respondent company, pointed out that the trips were regular ones, but December 23 last happened to fall on a Sunday. The Court reserved its decision.