MARITIME DISPUTE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3770, 19 June 1899, Page 7

MARITIME DISPUTE.

1 DECISION OF CONCILIATION BOARD. SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS. The Wellington Conciliation Board at the Patent Court on Saturday made known its recommendations in the dispute between the Wellington branch of the Federated Seamen s Industrial Union of New Zealand of Workers and the shipowners in the Wellington trade. On the application of Mr A. H. Hindmarsh, president of the Wellington branch, and by consent of the representatives of the shipowners present, the title of the union as given in the summons was amended by the inclusion of the words “of New Zealand.” This was done in order to make the title m the summons agree with the title regisThe chairman of the Board (Mr W. H. Quick) said: We have at last come to the end df our labours in connection with this dispute —a long and somewhat complicated matter —and I think the Board can congratulate itself up oh the fact that the best temper has been kept on both sides. There has been nothing to complain of in that direction. The Board’s decision is a rather long one. In fact, it is longer than any we have given hitherto. The dispute has caused us a great deal of thought, and its consideration has taken up a lot of time. Wo generally find that our suggestions are not accepted—as we should like to see them accepted—by both parties without demur; but you will, I think, give us credit for this, that we have endeavoured to do justice to all parties to the best of our ability. I will now proceed to read the recommendation k as drawn up by the Board. In regard to them I may mention that the Board has before it a demand by the shipowners for a reduction of wages as well as the union’s demand for an increase. The Board’s recommendations are as follow; , Clauses 1 and 2.—The Board does not see its way clear to raise or reduce the wages. Clause 3.—The overtime to be as at present, but surfing to bo 'paid at the rate of Is 9d per hour. Clause 4.—The following recommendations will apply to Hie ferry ’ trade between Wellington-Lyttelton, Wellingt on-Picton-N elson, W ellington-Picton-Nclson-Westport-Greymouth, and Wel-lington-Nelson-New Plymouth-Manukau (timetable service); —When a ship arrives in port during the 4 to 8 morning watch and sails again the same day, the 4 to 8 a.m. watch on deck is to be allowed a watch below from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, provided that the seamen are not allowed to leave the ship between these hours unless by express permission of the chief officer; and in the' event of a ship arriving in tween the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. the unexpired time of the sea watch is to be deducted from the watch below between 8 a.m. and 12 noon. In ports where shore labour is not readily available to relievo the 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. watch, the seamen can be called upon to work between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, and shall be paid overtime for any

time worked between these hours in excess of the unexpired time of the sea watch.

Clause s.—That when time off is charged against overtime, it shall be equivalent to the same monetary value, and shall be given at the home port or the port where tho man resides.

Clause 6.—(a) The hours of labour shall ho eight in all ports and roadsteads for A.B.’s working cargo—namely, from 7 a.in. to 5 p.m., with two hours for meals. Meal hours as pe. port rules save where the esigenc.es rf the service require, hut overtime not to he prejudiced. Sea watches of men in the stoke-hole on days of sailing and arrival shall count as a portion of the eight hours’ work per day. Firemen, greasers and trimmers shall work as required during their watches. Seamen on watch shall perform any work required of them between the hours of 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. in intercolonial steamers, and between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. on coastal steamers, but shall bo paid overtime for any work performed outside of these hours, with the following exceptions;—(l) Work necessary for tho navigation or the safety of the ship; (2) clearing decks, stowing cargo, gear, etc., after leaving port. (b). The wages at present paid in the different services to continue. Overtime to bo paid for all classes of work in any port, bay or roadstead, except work necessary for the safety of the vessel; washing decks and decorating ships on Sundays and public holidays between 6 and 8 a.m. to-be exempt from overtime. This provision to mean when a vessel arrives after 5 p.m. on the evening previous to a Sunday or public holiday. Public " holidays to mean Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Eight Hours Demonstration Day and Queen’s Birthday ; but as regards the Union Steam Ship Company, Boxing Day is not to count if it forms one of three consecutive holidays. Should any of the above-mentioned days fall on a Sunday, the following day to be given in place thereof if observed as a holiday. Donkeytnen’s overtime to commence from the time steam is ordered, and overtime to bo paid for working meal hours. Seamen employed as watchmen or on Sundays and holidays to be paid overtime, or equivalent in time when given time off. Overtime for holidays to be paid at current overtime rates for all hours worked except where a vessel is engaged on any of the abovementioned days in running an excursion, in which latter case 10s shall be paid each man in lieu of ordinary overtime rates, (c) Signing off—24 hour-, ) otico on either side shall be the law or discharge in -the port where the ship lias drawn out lier articles; but should. the ship be laid up in any port of the Australian colonies, the crew may accept their discharge with wages then due hut shall be entitled to a free passage back to the final port. Engagement may bo determined in the colony at any time after the ship’s arrival at her final port of discharge in the colony consequent on the completion of a round . voyage by, 24 hours’ notice on cither side. All notices to be given to or received from the master of the ship only, (d) Men employed in the stoke-hole immediately coming off watch on day of arrival in port shall be entitled to four hours’ off duty prior to resuming work. Watch to be set four hours prior to advertised or sailing time, (e) The secretary of the Wellington branch of the Federated Seamen’s Industrial Union of New Zealand of Workers may appoint a delegate from amongst the crew. Clause 7.—Employers shall; employ members of the union in preference to non-members, provided there are members of the union equally competent with non-members to perform the work required to bo done, andi are ready and willing to undertake it where non-mem-bers are employed. This clause is dependent- on tho .union taking, into its membership! any competent seaman of good character on his paying the subscription at present charged. And if at any time tr> exercise of the privilege granted to the union shall be found to interfere with the discipline of a ship or the exigencies of the service, any shipowner may apply to the Board, and on due causa being shown have the clause reconsidered with a p view -of the same being struck out or modified. Clause B.—When any vessel enters a port on a Sunday, or any of the holidays mentioned in these recommendations, and proceeds to sea prior to midnight, members of the union to be paid Is 6d per hour, but half an hour is to be allowed by the watch on deck foxlanding, mails and passengers’ luggage. Clause 9.—That an agreement be drawn up to embody the above suggestions, to last for two years from this date (except in case of clause 8 should it require reconsideration). Such agreement shall be banded to the Clerk or Awards, in whose office it shall lie for execution. If not executed by all parties within seven days of its being left, the chairman may file a report to the effect that the Board has failed to conciliate. Dated this 17th day of June, 1899.

Mr W. A. Kennedy (Union Steam Ship Company) asked whose duty it would he to draw up the agreement. The chairman : The party most direioly interested. Mr W. A. Kennedy, on behalf of the shipowners, thanked the Board for the patience it had shown in listening to the long and at times very wearisome discussions which had taken place during the hearing of- the dispute. Mr W. Jones (secretary of the union] said he also wished to thank the Board and all the gentlemen present for the patience they had shown during ttm hearing of a most technical dispute. He would lay the Board’s recommen dations before his union at the earliest opportunity, and get the opinion of the members upon them. Mr .Quick, the chairman, took occasion to thank Mr Kennedy for the use of the Union Steam Ship Company’s board room, which was kindly lent on the sth and 6th inst. The shipowners were also thanked for having supplied the Board with a copy of the evidence (Mr Chas. Onyon having been engaged to take a verbatim report of the proceedings), and Mr S. Brown for the use of his typewriter in writing up the award.