THE MERCHANT SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15234, 22 February 1913, Page 7

THE MERCHANT SERVICE.

OFFICERS DISCONTENTED. WAGES AND STATUS INVOLVED. [B? TELEGRAPH.—OWN coreespondent.'! . Wellingi-ox, Friday. ; For some time past there has been develop-" ing a feeling of uneasiness on the part of ! officers on ships in the Australian and New ' Zealand mercantile marine with respect to their status, pay, and working conditions. Ciosor and more intimate relations are being established (although it is understood that nothing definite has as yet been come to) ;. between the Australian officers and their brethren in the New Zealand trade, and in addition there are being taken steps to bring about a closer union between the marine engineers and deck officers of New Zealand for their mutual protection. 1 So far as the marine engineers are concerned they have already made certain suggestions to shipowners for the betterment of conditions of service ac* pay which axe now tinder consideration, but. this is independent of the defensive union of the two bodies of men— engineers and navigators. One of the causes of the uneasiness on their part is, as they hold, the lowering of their status, and the diminishing influence over both sailors and firemen. It is made no secret that owners are inclined to tolerate more from the firemen and sailors than in the judgment of the officers is good for the maintenance of discipline on boar} ship, and incidentally for the comfort-, not to say safety, of all on board. A well-known' captain in the AustralianNew Zealand trade said: "We feel thaA the time has come when the ships' officers of the bridge, deck, and engineroom should be heard. If it came to a demonstration we could make one because we have the key of the position. The stokeholds or the deck might be manned by clerks, but no ship could leave port without its full complement ot certificated men on board. The attitude of bota firemen and sailors has become generally intolerable, and the officers feel that they have not behind them the moral support of the owners in the enforcement of discipline. Hitherto we have complained, formerly with some chance of amelioration, but now we recognise that to complain is futile. Besides, the rates of pay of some of the firemen and sailors on some vessels and in certain'circumstances are frequently on a level with, where they do not actually exceed, those paid to officers. The pass now reached is most disquieting, and the officers feel that once their plans are consolidated they must stand shoulder to shoulder, deck and engineroom, in defence of their common interests, and the serious recognition of the claims of certificated and highly-trained men." It is understood that a conference will shortly be held between representatives' of ; the New' Zealand Merchant Service Guild and the Marine Engineers' Institute to consider the present position of the officers of both associations. .■• ■ , _ , ;,■■.•■