CASE FOR SHIPOWNERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18247, 14 November 1922, Page 8

CASE FOR SHIPOWNERS.

TERMS OF" AGREEMENT.

ANALYSIS OF WAGES.

INCREASE SINCE 1914; t

The seamen's trouble was discussed at a meeting of the Employers* Association held yesterday. It was stated that tho seamen's agreement, made in 1920, having expired at the end of last February, an award of' the Arbitration Court was sought by the shipowners. During the war period, from 1914 to 1920, wages had been increased and better working conditions given. The able seamen's wages had risen from £8 per month in 1914 to £14 per month in 1920, an increase of £6 per month, or 75 per cent. The overtime had increased from Is 6d per hour to 2s 6d per" hour, or 66 2-3 per cent. In the coastal boats the 12-hour day «it sea on deck had been reduced to an eight-hour day. In addition to the above the seamen received, on February 10, 1921, and during tho currency of tho present award, an additional bonus ot 10s per month. In the 1920 agreement the following clause was inserted: —"Should wages be. increased under the Australian agreement during the terms of this agreemont the schedule of wages herein contained shall be correspondingly increased from the date tho increase comes into force in Australia." The result of this clause had been that on December 22, 1921, the seamen received another increase of £1 6s 8d per month. This was on March 18 reduced to 17s per month, but an increase of 3d fier hour was given on the overtime. Still urther, on August 1, another increase of 2s per month on the wages was given. The able seamen had therefore received a total increase of £1 9s in wages and 3d per hoar overtime on the rates made in the agreement of 1920. All of these were on account of the Australian clause. The increase since 1914 was £6 3s 4d per month, or 77 per cent., in wages and Is per hour, or 66 2-3 per cent., on the overtime.

In May the Arbitration Court, owing to the decline in the cost of living, reduced all male workers by £1 Is 8d per month. This was made to apply to all workers ashore and on board ship, including officers, engineers, cooks, and stewards, but on account of the clause of the agreement previously mentioned, this could not be made to apply to tho seamen. Therefore the seamen had retained all their increases, while the workers had been reduced in accordance with the decline in the cost of living. , As the award applied to New Zealand seamen whose, families lived in the Dominion the Court decided to ignore tho Australian rates, and fix the wages for 6eamen, having regard only to the cost of living in this country. It had only reduced the wages by £1 5s 8d per month, with a reduction of 3d an hour in overtime, such reduction not being subjected to any variations until May 1 next. This was fully sot out in tho Judge's memorandum.

As regards the conditions the men retained tho 8-hour day, both at sea arid in port, and overtime had to be paid for any work done after eight hours. The award also provided that sea watches may be retained in port in one department only when a vessel is sailing the same day or within eight hours. As the cost of living was declining in this country it was obvious that wages must be adjusted accordingly, otherwise it was imSossiblo for tho cost of living to come own. INDUSTRIES AFFECTED. NORTHERN MARKET CLOSED.

FACTORIES IN DUNEDIN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN. Monday. Managers of various manufacturing concerns in Dunedin are awaiting developments, but one or two who were spoken to to-day said that if the strike continued it would only be a very short time before their factories would have to be closed down, thus throwing a considerable number of men out of employment. Dunedin sends to the North a large quantity of general goods such as beer, ranges, flour, oatmeal, biscuits and confectionery, pickles and sauces, boots, bricks, tiles, etc., and if transport were restricted to small coastal vessels 'large quantities of these goods would be shut out and work would have to cease. Apart from the confectionery trade, the jammaking industry will be very seriously affected if supplies of sugar are cut off from the North, and many owners of small gardens and orchards will be involved in heavy loss.

PRODUCE FROM NELSON. YEAR'S WORK IN JEOPARDY. STRAWBERRIES AND CHERRIES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NELSON. Monday. Strawberry and cherry growers in the Nelson district are greatly concerned regarding' the threatened loss of the result of their year's labour. This is most perishable produce, and large quantities will be ready during this week. Pea growers are in the same unenviable position. The plight of other producers is not quite so acute, but it requires only a week or two to put tomato growers in a similar predicament. The Anchor Company's steamer Alexander joined the idle fleet to-day. The Union Company's Ngakuta calls into the outer anchorage early to-morrow . morning on her way to Westport and Wellington. She will pick up a crew coming overland from Westport, and also take mails.. The Titoki, due at Nelson to-morrow, will lay up. The Anchor Company will be able to despatch the Nikau for Wellington to-mor-row evening. The auxiliary scow Kohi is timed to leave for Wellington to-morrow. TROPICAL FRUITS SHORT. SCARCITY IN CANTERBURY. AMPLE STOCKS OF COAL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHEISTCHTJRCH. Monday. Large quantities of bananas for transhipment to Lyttelton have been held up in Wellington, and will have to be sold there at a big loss to the South Island fruiterers. One importer stated that he had bought 240 coses of bananas at 30s a case m Wellington, and they would have to be sold by auction. He was not sanguine of receiving more than 15s a case for thern. Present supplies of oranges and lemons are stated to be fairly good, but there is bound to be a shortage before long if tho strike continues. North Island potatoes are also definitely held up, and' the price has been increased alrea.dy. Ihere is any amount ot coal in stock in merchants' yards in Christchurch at present. If the demand continues normal these supplies will Do sufficient to meet the requirements of the public for a month, though, on the other hand, there is a danger of shortage if the public gots " panicky." " There is no causo for alarm at all," said Mr. L. J. Schmidt, the local officer in charge of. the Department of Industries and Commerce, who was asked what was the position. The Government is the vendor of the output of the Colonial Sugar Company in Auckland, and Mr. Schmidt said that supplies were normal aa far as ho was aware. The worst tiling that could happen would be a rush by householders to secure supplies in the first few days.

Everything cheap for men this week, 21 days' wholesale clearance. The Hub, Queen Street.