SEAMEN'S WAGES IN AUSTRALIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 25 January 1911, Page 4

SEAMEN'S WAGES IN AUSTRALIA.

WILL IT AFFECT FREIGHTS, AND FAJtES'?. • ■•

THE recent Commonwealth agreement affecting; the wages of officers and seamen of the Australian mercantile marine has raised the question whether, to make up the deficiency in profits caused, by the substantial increases, and pass it an as usual to the public, the steamship companies will raise freight ami; fares. About 2100 men are concerned in the agreement, meaning, an increase in. expenditure in wages by the shipowners of £ISOO a month, or £12,600 a, year. Taking all the increases in wages paid to all ranks the Australian- shipowners may hqve to pay under the new agreements and awards about, a year more than they paid under the old. conditions. This is made njp as follow;®:—Seamten, £12,60,6,; officers, £11,000,; cooks and stewards, £8000; engineers, £4vaaj.

With regard- to corresponding increases in freights and fares, however, it will reassure the- travelling public and consignors alike to learn that. for the present at least there is no intention, to make any marked alteration in. the charges. Recently the chariman of the Commonwealth. Steamship Owners' Association intimated that there was to be no imtmediate increase. He said that there was no doubt, however, that the matter would be; considered in due course, though the desire was to v keep I rates as low as possible consistent with sound trading. The Association did not wish to diminish, the traffic by charging : higher rates than were necessary. The owners would wait to see the effect on ■ their receipts of the provisional agree'ment. On the other hand, the shipping ■'manager for M'llwraith, M'Eacharn, and Co., said that no doubt something 'would have to be done by and by. The ■officers, stewards, cooks, and seamen ; generally had received increases in •'wages, aJid the iprices of provisions had ialso to bo considered.