SEAMEN’S WAGES

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11660, 26 October 1923, Page 5

SEAMEN’S WAGES

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF WORK. A DESULTORY DISCUSSION. “I am not- prepared to take anything less than the Australian rates of wages,” declared Alr.W. T. Young (secretary to tho Federated Seamen’s Union), at the Conciliation Council meeting with regard to the seamen’s dispute yesterday. Comparing seamen’s wages, as proposed by the employers, with tramway-men's wages, he pointed out that tho ordinary seaman V. rate claimed was £7 oe a month : leading A.B/s and boatswain, £l3; firemen, £l4; and donkeyman, £ls a month; whereas a tramway motorman had told him the other day that he was making between £7' and £8 a week on a run that he considered a soft one, and he finished about 6 o’clock in the evening. Captain Petersen (employers' assessor) : But they change round, don’t they * Mr Young: He didn’t: he told me he had been on that round for months. Mr W. G. Smith (U.S.S. Co.’s representative): But the wage would include overtime. The Conciliation Commissioner (Air W. Newton) said that he had found that the tramwaymen had a very different tale to tell. There were two sides to it. Mr Young: Of course, there are tramwaymen, he added, who might be engaged in one of the picture theatre orchestras at night, or doing night work at other theatres, and thus earn extra money. But seamen oould not do that. “ONE MAX, ONE JOB.” Mr Smith said that he was surprised to hear Mr Young advocate that. It used to be “one man, one job/* (Laughter.) Mr Young: It strikes me you have got about a dozen. (Laughter.) The commissioner said that it must be recognised that, the seaman had a good deal of waste time that he could not use to advantage. Mr Anderson (workers’ assessor): And often he doesn’t take up the work willingly. It is a case of hard economic necessity.

Captain Petersen: But the seaman has the advantage that he cannot spend his money at sea. and has to bring it back to his wife.

Air Young pointed out that owing to the short runs from port- to port on the New Zealand coast the men had every opportunity to spend their money, and. because of the short runs too, they had to work much harder than the seamen on the Australian coast.

Mr Smith: That also goes to show that the men must get more money here than in Australia, as they get overtime for every hour worked after eight.

Air Youns: Oh, no; the companion watch out for overtime.

Captain Petersen: Thev don’t work cargo, many of them. They only do ©hip’s work.

Air Ardevson remarked that they lost a good deal of sleep because of being in port at such short intervals. NOT TO P.LA.AfF, FOR THE WEATHER.

'Mr Young urged that the weather was also a good deal worse on the New Zealand coast than on the Australian coast. He had known it much wonse in Cook Strait than in the Australian Biaht

Mr. Smith: But you can’t blame the shipping companies for the weather. (Laughter.) * e Mr Young summed un the points abpye stated, exclaiming, “Yet the companies want to Kriftg the men on this coast down to £4 'a month less than on the Australisn coast/’ There was, he claimed, a difference of 22 points in the cost of living against New* Zealand. Mr Smith argued that, on the Government r Statistician’s figures, there was a difference of 21 points in favour of New Zealand.

Mr Young remarked that he didn’t think they were likely to get anv further •on the employers’ claims. Th«*v were clashing on them.

The commissioner: I don’t see that. I think we would arrive at an agreement on them. Both rides had made concessions on the conditions, be observ ed.

Mr A 7 o\in«r said that he had been in horns of effecting a settlement; but Mr Smith hs.d clearly stated that he wanted a ('-till further reduction in wages. Air Smith said that he had mad*, that statement after Mr Ymma had raid that he stood by the Australian rate*. The position in regard to vp»e« h«d been made clear in Air T. O. Bishop’s letter to the union. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?”

Air Young: Then, if you are going to stand firm on your claims—on Air Bishop’s letter, as you say—wliat are you doing here? There is no need for it.

Air Smith: Oh, yes, there is; because we thought we could come to a settlement. Wo have come to a settlement on some matters. Air Anderson said that all the concessions had been made by the union; and none by the employers.

The commissioner oaid that both sides had given up something. He understood that they were to hoar Mr Young’s argument on wages, and then have a long adjournment so that the employers could consider the matter. They knew where they stood now. Proposals and counter-pronosals had "been made; various matters had been agreed to; and he understood from Air Smith that the employers would consider those matters and also the question of wages. Mr Young said that lie hadn’t finished what ho had to eay on wages, and commented that the employers seemed to he trying to play New Zealand off against Australia and Australia off algainst Now Zealand in the matter of wages. Air Smith contended that that was what the Seamen’s Union was always trying to do. After some further discussion of a desultory character the council adjourned at 11.30 a.m. till 3.30 p.m. NO AGREEMENT BOT-H SIDES STAND FIRM. After the resumption, Mr Smith stated that the employers had fully considered the matter, and were unable to recede from their position.. They considered that they were entitled to the rates of wages sot out in their application. Consequently no agreement was reached as to wages. Air Young intimated that the matter would ho considered by the Seamen’s Union in .the course of a day or two. and lie would report to tho Conciliation Commissioner next week.