SEAMEN'S BONUS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23850, 28 December 1940, Page 3

SEAMEN'S BONUS

WAR RISK PAYMENT AUSTRALIAN DECISION VESSELS ALREADY DESTROYED [FROM Ol'K OWN COHRKSPONDKNT] SYDNEY, Dec. 'JO 'I he Chief Judge of the Arbitration Court, Sir George 'Beeby, has granted a wage increase of 25 per cent to employees in Australian ohips trading to New Zealand and other overseas countries, and of 20 per cent to employees in ships trading along the Australian coast. The increases, for the duration of the war, are war risk bonuses. Recalling an award giving smaller increases last March. Sir George Beeby said that at the time 1 lie risks in Australian waters of attacks on Australian shipping by the enemy or of destruction or damage by mines were negligible. "lint during recent weeks,'' he added, "the Australian coast has beep brought within the war zone. Ships have been destroyed and damaged by mines and enemy raiders, it is impossible to express in wage rates what compensation for added risks of employment should be provided. Officers and crews are mostly concerned with their future if injured, and with the fate of their dependants if they ■ are killed. To enable men to make provision for such contingencies, no scheme of wage rates can be devised. This lias been recognised by Commonwealth legislation providing compensation for widows and dependants. That scheme must be regarded as the main provision for war risks." On the day that the award was made, the Australian Minister for the Navy. Mr. Hughes, assured a deputation'representing ships' employees, who asked for continuous air patrol and minesweeping operations, that minesweeping was being carried out continuously in sea lanes._ Last week's instruction that all Australian ships must be fitted with paravanes, as protection against mines, lias been followed by another that they must be fitted with degaussing apparatus. as a safeguard against magnetic mines.