THE TEES DISPUTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 November 1934, Page 2

THE TEES DISPUTE

SHIPPING AGENT’S STATEMENT. ’ Negotiations in the Tees dispute are now being conducted in Wellington between the Wellington agents, for the owners, and the executive of the Seamen’s Union Federation. • Mr W W Toy, of Messrs W. W. Top and Company, Christchurch, and Lyttelton, agents Dor the Westland Shipping Company, owners of the Tees, stated on Wednesday that there seemed to be no prospect of the seamen modifying their demands for higher rates of pay. Neither would they accept employment on the understanding that they would be called upon to work cargo only at such times as it might be imperative. Mr Toy said that, simply because the six deck hands could not force their will upon the owners, 11 other officers and men had been thrown out of employment and the vessel tied up indefinitely. Though many seamen were out of work and oh relief work, it was impossible to man the vessel. The wages and conditions enjoyed by the crew of the Tees were better than in any other evessel trading out of Lyttelton, Mr Toy said, and the owners were unable to concede anything further. For the information of all concerned Mi’ Toy supplied the following statement of wages paid, taken over.a period of six months: — First A.B. £l4O 6/1, average £23 7/8 a month. Second A.B. £132 1/3, average £22 0/2 a month. Allowance also had to be made for hoard and lodging, which, Mr Toy said, should be computed at not less • than £5 a month. Conditions provided for seamen included weekly halfholiday, or payment in lieu thereof!; 14 days’ annual leave on full-pay; vessel signing on for less period than a month, 25 per cent, additional wages. When a / man, through accident or sickness, was paid off, he received 'full wages plus 12/- a day to cover expenses. When he was pronounced fit for duty another job had to be found for him, or he had to receive a further seven days’ pay in, lieu thereof. On top of these conditions, Mr Toy said, the men had now demanded increases in the rate of wages for overtime of from 50 to 100 per cent. Meantime the Tees was fully loaded and awaiting a crew. The position at the Chatham Islands was serious. Stores were running out and the fisheries were unable to continue operating. In addition to this there was now a full cbmplement of passengers waiting to return to the islands.