SEAMEN’S AWARD

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12095, 24 March 1925, Page 2

SEAMEN’S AWARD

INTERPRETATION SOUGHT. JUDGMENT RESERVED. The attention of the Arbitration Court was engaged yesterday afternoon by an application by the Union Steam Ship Company for interpretations of the New Zealand Seamen’s award. His Honour Mr Justice Frazer occupied the bench, with Messrs H. Hunter (employees’ assessor), and W. Scott (employers’ assessor). Mr H. E. Smith appeared for the Union Company, and the seamen were represented by Mr T. Young. QUESTIONS FOIR COURT. The questions for the court, said Mr Smith, were: —(1) Where under paragraph (c) of clause 16 of the aiward, the eight hours to he worked by the hours period on the subsequent Monwould, if worked, commence in port on a Satui-day at 6 p.m., is the employer entitled to commence a new twenty-four hours’ period on the subsequent Monday at 3 p m., or should the period commence on the Monday at 6 p.m., the same as on Saturday? (b) Where under paragraph (e) of clause 16 of the award the donkeyman .has during the past week worked his eight hours in port in the twenty-four hours period, commencing each day at 6 p.m., but on Saturday is not called upon to work at all after finishing at 2 a.m., is the employer entitled to commence a now twenty-four hours’ period on the subsequent Monday at 3 p.m., or should the period commence on the Monday at 6 p.m. in the same way as on the days of the previous week ? The company also asked the court to say whether the men who were on duty on the s.s. Flora between 11.7 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. on Monday were entitled to overtime payment. The Flora spent the week-end in the roadstead. The company contended that in this case the roadstead was the open sea; the union contended that it was the port. Judgment on both points was reserved.