EXEMPTED COMPANY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23503, 14 November 1939, Page 9

EXEMPTED COMPANY

UNION SEEKS AWARD MARINE ENGINEERS' CASE Tho Noff Zealand Engine Drivers, River Engineers, Marine Engine Drivers, Greasers, Firemen and Assistants' Union, represented by Mr. J. Clark, sought a now award before the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr. W. E. Anderson opposed on behalf of the only employer concerned, the Kaipara Steamship Company, Limited. The Conciliation Council had no recommendation to make, and referred the whole dispute to the Court. The union asked for a minimum rate of pay for engineers of £32 a month, for ordinary, hours not exceeding 44, and for three consecutive weeks' holiday annually on full pay. The Kaipara Steamship Company was granted exemption from tho marine engine drivers' award, which came into operation on December 12 last. In March last the Engine Drivers' Union applied for a further award prescribing conditions of employment to be observed by the company. In evidence yesterday Captain 11. C. Hammond, a director of tho respondent company, stated that after tho exemption was granted last December ho telephoned instructions that another fireman was to bo employed on the lluawai to lighten the engineer's duties. It was only that morning ho had learned that those instructions had never been carried out. Ho admitted that in tho circumstances the engineer had been working unduly long hours, and undertook that a fireman would bo employed forthwith. The Court reserved its decision.