HARBOUR EMPLOYEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12928, 26 July 1905, Page 6

HARBOUR EMPLOYEES.

A QUESTION OF SALARIES.

DEMANDS OF SHIPMASTERS'

ASSOCIATION.

The Auckland Harbour Board, at its meeting .yesterday, considered a communication .from the secretary of the Harbour Boards'' Association of New Zealand. (Mr. L. Cachemaille), enclosing resolutions passed by the Harbour Boards' Association in reference to a letter addressed to the Otago Harbour Board by the Shipmasters'. Association, dealing with the alleged inadequacy of remuneration paid to harbourmasters, pilots, tug and dredgemastcrs. The resolutions of the Harbour" Boards' Association were: (1) That- it is of opinion that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was never' intended to apply and did not apply to harbourmasters, pilots, tug, and dredgemastcrs, and that the Shipmasters' Association could no*"legally represent harbourmasters and pilots, and obtain a decision of the Arbitration Court binding boards m- their agreements with such officers; that it is possible they may be the legal _ representatives of the tug and dredge sailingmasters; and that a. circular' be sent to members, informing them of this resolution; (2 that the Harbour Board be recommended to refuse, to acknowledge that the (shipmasters' Association have any locus under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and suggests that no notice should be taken of their demands; (3) that if the Shipmasters' Association cite any affiliated harbor board before < the Arbitration Court, the Harbour Boards Association be recommended to support it in -resist-. in" them, and in contesting a case to decide whether or not the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act- applies to harbourmasters, pilots, etc.; (4) that as full information as possible be sent to all harbour boards.of the earnings and. emoluments of 'harbourmasters, pilots, and tug and dredgemasters throughout the colony and in Australia. The executive of the Harbour Boards' Association held that the Act- was not intended to apply to such comparatively highly-paid positions as those referred to, and suggested that harbour boards should do nothing by which the Shipmasters'. Association could infer that they recognised that the Shipmasters' Association had the right to cite boards before the Arbitration Court. The Chairman (Hon. E. Mitclielson), m moving that the letter be received, said the boards' had no right to permit any association to dictate what the rates of pay should be to their officers. The-. Board's employees were paid a good salary, and when deserving of an increase, such was granted without reference to any association. The letter was received.