“DECLARED BLACK”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11293, 19 August 1922, Page 6

“DECLARED BLACK”

THE TUTANEKAI GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE EXPLAINED BY MINISTER. REPLY TO FEDERATION. The Seamen’s Federation has declared the Government steamer Tutanekai “black,” and the reasons for its action were set out in a statement made by the secretary (Mr W. T. Young). Interviewed yesterday by a “Times” reporter, the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister for Marine) made the following statement in connection with the matter:— “A special payment cf £1 per month was originally granted to the seamenboatmen only for special duties in connection with tlie 'anding and shore work. Latterly this special payment has applied to the whole crew, but only the deck bands have been called on to perform the duties for which rhe special pnvment was granted. The firemen did not perform any special duty, and therefore were only entitled to award rates, which were offered to them. The agreement entered into between the department and the Seamen’s Union on April Ist, 1920, expired on March 31st, 1922. “The Public Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1921-22, came into force on January Ist, 1922, and the provisions of thi3 Act are applicable to the employees concerned. Such application was considered in, June last by the Adjustment Committee established under the provisions of the last-mention-ed Act, when it was decided that tho wages and conditions of appointment of the whole crew would be dealt with on the expiration of the ship’s articles entered into on February 7th, 1922. These articles expired on the 7th instant, and the Adjustment Committee above referred to decided that the award rates were to be paid, and that the extra £1 per month was to be allowed to the boatmen-seamen. “Therefore, the Marine Department not only honoured the agreement beforementioned, but, in addition, allowed the ship’s articles to expire without alteration in wages, although the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908, and amendment, does not apply to ships belonging to the Government. “Further, the department made no proposal on the expiration or such articles to pay wages at a lower rate than the coastal award. However, when new articles were opened up on the Bth Instant, the whole crew refused to sign on. It was then decided, under the provisions of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 1908, to invite applications for permanent positions on the boat, and for some nineteen vacancies the department received over ninety applications. A selection waa made by a special committee set up by the department, and the successful applicants were engaged subject to the usual conditions precedent to permanent employment.