SHIPPING HOLD-UP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 8 October 1917, Page 8

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

POSITION AT WELLINGTON. QUESTIONS- FOR THE COURT. There is no indication at present of any- change in the position of the seamen's dispute, says Saturda. 's tPost. A number of the men concerned are reported to be signing on with other vessels which are not affected by the trouble. The application for interpretation (.lied by the Inspector of Awards) submits the "following statement of matters in dispute and questions ioi answer: — A:' Clause 9—(a) At sea the hours of labour for deck hands should not be more than eight in a day, to oe worked as mav be required by the employer. lb) At sea the hours of "labour for stokehold and engineroom hands should be not more than eight in a day io be worked as may be required by the emplover (a dav" means from midnight, to rnidmght). Question : Has tlie employee the l-ight at sea to work seamen any fight hours in am day? IB: Clause 9—(<i) When a vessel arrives in port and leaves again the saras day' or when she arrives and leaves within eight hours before 5 p.m. aod 7 a m . the ship may. at the option ot t.ht» 'master, be treated as at .sea. Question : When a vessel arrives in port and leaves again the same day. or when a vessel arrives and leaves witluu eight hours between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m.. and i. treated "as at sea" and seanieo have performed, say. two hours' work. before arrival in port and will be required to perform two hours' duty after departure can the balance of the eight hours to be worked in port be worked at any time (without payment of overtime) as mav be required by the master and as pro'vided in clause 9 (a) and (o\! C - Ciau=e 11 (b)— -The hours of labour jr.- port for deck, engine-room, and itoke-hold hands should Ve between i a.nT.and -5 p.m.. except that on days of departure from a port the chief en cnneerV may set watches three hour* before the time fixed for the departure of the vessel. Question: When a- vessel arrives in port and a seaman has worked fi ay, four hour P at sea before arrival, can the balance of the eight hours be worked at any time between 7 a.m. and 6 i?>jn. -lineal hour excluded) as may be reouired -bv the employer: T Clause 18-The meal hour allowed' in-port shall be for breakfast, any Ibtmr between 7 an., and 9 am : for dinner/ any one hour between 12 nooo-and 2 p.m.; for tea, if working overtime, any one uour between 5 pm. and 7 p:m. and if w or «. i* to be continued after U ■ p.m. one io:u- tor .supper between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Seamen should not be under any obligation to curtail any meal time even on the terms of payment for overtime. Qoestion: Where a vessel (such as is the Vase regularlv with the s.s. Pato sail at 12.45 p.m., jun the marter send some of "tne men to dinn£Tt no»n md the rest of the men ailp-m, or can all the men be requiredto to take their dinner alter th* departure, of the shif .' E- The Conr< is farther requested to divide if. '-vhere the r aiming scaie ot and Seamen Act allows vessels to carry less than six ab;e seaman it Ts essential to the safety of -Seb'vessels that two deck hands should emploved'on the deck at the same ?f m rfn Addition to the officer m charge? ' . _