THE BOARD OF CONCILIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10722, 10 February 1897, Page 3

THE BOARD OF CONCILIATION.

SEAMEN'S DISPUTE, iAN INCREASE OF WAGES GRANTED. The Board of Conciliation again met yesterday afternoon for the purpose of, if possible, effecting a settlement of the seamen's dispute. Negotiations have beeu progressing under the auspices of, the board since the matter was heard on Thursday last, and several adjournments have taken place after conferences with a view to settlement have bepn held betweeu the parties to the dispute and the board. All the members of the board were again present-— namely, Messrs Sim (president), G. L. Sise, G P Farquhw, J. A. Millar, M H R., and R. Ferguson. Mr James Mills (managing director of the Union Company), Mr Keith Ramsay (a shipowner), Mc Belcher (the secretary of the Seamen's Union), aud Mr G. A, King (clerk of awards) were sleo present, After another series of consultations with the parties and amongst the members of the board, afc4 p.m, ifc became known that a recommendation had been unanimously agreed upon, and j that it would probably be accepted by all the j parties. j Mr Sim said: With l-twpeob to the dispute J between the Seamen's Union, and the-Union J Steam Ship Company the board has recora- , mended the parties to agree to the following | compromise as a settlement of the diapute:— j 1. The' wages to be increased by 10s per month I as from the lst of .March; 1897. j 2. Overtime rates to remain as at present. j 3. Holiday* and payment for holidays to remain as at present. 4. The company to have the same right of employing non-member* of the union as at present, but to afford to members of the union tu6 xame right of employment lis to otheiv 5. Manlbership of the company's bHnetit socie.ty" to be upti mil .ifter the 30th f-eptember next, which will bi the end of the society* financial year, tn the loei'itim? the eompauy uuy lequira the employees to join 'he society, and may give lib members pipference of emplnymeut 0 The compinv to h*ve the siirae right as at piejeut to ongagp hands by jgefits 7* The Seamen's Union's representative is not to visit members on bond ship, but the company recognise-, the right of such repre-entative to visit the men in then own time at any other pIAM I may say tijafc Mi Mills the representative of fche Union Company, hs* agread to these terms, and Mr Btleher approves of these terms, but betore definitely agreeing to them he has to | obtain 'he authority of his execubivo. Mr Belcher: Pardon me. ,I do not say I approve of them I Mr Sim ; I understood you to say you would recommend them - > Mr Bflcher. Thab is * different thing altogether. Mr Sim- Well, then. Mr Belcher will recommend that these terms be acpepted by bis executive. The hoard have recommended the parties to embody these terms in an industrial stgrecmenfc to remain in force for a period of j two years. Then with respect to tho dispute , bstween the Seamen's Union aud Mr Ramsay, ' the recommendation already made ia connection with the other dispure covers thiß dispute, and Mr Ramsay agrees to accept the terms already suggested with regard to the other dispute. > ' Mr Ramsay: That is so far as they apply to .me. Mr Sim : Yes, so far as they apply to Mr Ramsay. That will end the matter so far as the Conciliation Board is concerned. Mr Jamei Mills: Shall I be at liberty to make a few remarks ? Mr Sim: I suppose the members won't object Mr Mills : I merely wish to say how I recognisß the anxious care the chairmim and members of the board have given to this matter and thfir great desire to bring it to a fair and just conclusion 'It was largely in defereuce to their fris!.,' ahd indeed pressure, with also other considerations, that on behalf of the company I have agreed io this ooncesbion in wages, and perhaps also from a desire to merit from Mr Belcher the charaoter for ''sweet reas.inab'eueas," whioh he has denied us hitherto. 1, may say—indeed, I cannot help saying—that I still fchiuk the present rate of wages is ample upder existing circumstances, but the company h*ve to recognise that since the appeal was mado to them by the di-putation from their ms>u some thres months ago, when they declined afc that; cimo to make any concession, the supply of this olasit .or hbour has not been so plentiful, and thej also recognise that the effect of recent legiila tion, which provides for * certain number" of men being carried ou a ship and that even man shall have a certain qualification, be he seaman v or fireman, somewhat limits the number of men available for their purpose, and consequently attaches some .additional value to their services. Having fcheee things lin view, the company thought ,/hafc the I circumstances justified them in making some j ', concession in tha prfseni; instance. With j ' regard to the employment of men not member* ,of fche uuiou, we are glad tbafc you have Been i j $our way to award that there should be fiee- { dom of employment as hitherto We have a '. large number of non-union men in fche com- ! I pany's emoloy—good, deserving men,—and ifc is > only fair and just to them, and to others like , them, that this liberty should be allowed. As regards the benefit society, I may explain thsfc we havo conceded to a great extent the ! demand. We have practically conceded the d mand, for wa have agreed thafc membership o1- fche society shall be optional after the 30th or September. During fche interim I feel ooniident wo shall be able to reorganise the society 'ou such a bisis that members will still yery j ' largely take adyautiige.of it, and. the company i willcoii,t.iune to foster.it as they have hitherto r ( dorie.._ I.m'ay,say that:the immediate necessity I , which appeared to exi<st for the. formatibu of I the benefit society five years ago does not now •exist. The ob]«sfc,th<m.wala to.keep tbe men iv '■ ■ loush with the company, and endeavour to create a mutual interest so thafc ,if sfcrained I" relations arose at "any other''time they might i probabjiy consider the company's interest! as iriubh ' j .as their own.. However, recent legislation has ito a great eitohfc dohfe away With the" necessity • : for that, as is evidenced by.out!appearance hero. i When differences arise tha State has provided a ! | board.before .which we can appear and din'cuts s matters,, and prqhahly, iv most cases, come to an, amicable settlement. . TheW is no doubt I that this^poc.ession in Wj'ges, together'with the ! coricesMon recently made to the engineers, and ■ ' possibly other similar.; concessions which will \ "probibly, necessarily; folios iq the woke of these . wilLiuvglve a large .extra expenditure ou the pari of the company... This con- • cession and■: the (concession to the Mgi- . .nesrs between them will amount; tb £7000, ' -.' fnd the. others \vill ''probably "'bring ifc .up •to £10,000. I tW.nW.we..are. justified m'»ay{og'.; this is a sum.which we osiujod very well afford 1 put of the present earnings of the ciihpahv. It jWill.have to be made up to nt in some way by an incraaßp of ■ fares and .freights where it appears that can be done withoun iujury to the trade so that we miy recoup ourselves as'far. as-.! possible. lam obliged to jou for allowing me .-. to piake these few rem.i_rkß.Mr .Chairman, and J | tniipkyou and the members of the board for' your kindness in this matter. i Mr Ki'-Rtpos'ay a'aid:: Mr Chairman, I have ■ only to. thank, the.boaird of Conciliation for the '; vsrygreafcafctehtioti'they'have given to the I dispute,.;between the.' Bea'mqn'a, Uiiiou and j myself,, and;als.6 for their desire to bring aboufcl ah agreement/ between the union and the ship- ■> ping interests in this- place. While uot 1 admitting that, an iricreane. in wages is- . J. usV'fl?¥? 7*, n' 3ec"the present circUmstt'icas,, I I | felt it my duty to join with Mr Mills iii agreeing \ jto ths iiiqrease that has..beeu-giv«n. As I raeni tioued bet ore.there ar« some speaial oircum- ! i stances in my caia which render ifc somewhat ! { difficult to me.fco bft generous in 'th 4 matter of \ ; tbe pa^haiint «f the meti iv my empl6y'Qfier.(;. I j ; refer t'6. the strong compstition—the' unfair j competifcibn-^on the part pf .the R*ilway:depattmenfc, Afc, the same time I have to say thafc I > have gteat pleasure In. falling in with Mr Blilla's Egreemehti bo far as its proviaibhs nffveti niyself. With regard td the Seamen's' Union, of course I have, '.along felt ifc Y my duty, to encourage'thi* iiijion up to a oei;tain pqio'fc, aud • I have generally giyeu the preference to those who ar<*. members of the unida. I shall con- ' tinue to do ao; of course reseiviiig to raynelf ' tho same right that Mr Mills reserves—the right .to employ others. On the whole, the relations j between the union and myself are friendly; indeed, I recognise that combinations fhould exht both of employers and employees, and holding that, belief; I feel.it to be my duty to act as I have done. I have to again thank the board (or its kindness.. Mr BelcVier. said • I only wish to -.thank th* board most sincerely for their very honest eflfoit* to effect a se'tlemeui and for the large i amount of patience they have shown iv listening :to tbe various stories told them by both side!?. |: We have-had your ears on ueveral ucoatiohi in private, and I must say jou have tendered the . b»st advice-you possibly coulfl, I think, under ! Ihe ciroumntances. So far as th« concessions are concerned, there are seven Hums asked to, and all we have got out of it is a vt-ry »mMI piece of one and part of another, with a very big i-e*'erv»fclon in connection with fche matter. Looking at it from,my pi ii nt of view, well, fche couce«»iou is a)m'i«t infinifceiumal I can only say I will endeavour to do my utmost to influence the men I represent to accept those terras. I cannot say definitely whether they will do so or not. I cuinot pledge them in any shape. <>r. form ; all I can say is that I will use t-.very <-fforfc I heive at mv command lo try and induce the men to accept these terms Of coui-se it is obvious—indeed ifc has been referred to both by Mr Mills Slid Mr Kam^ay—seeing,thi) . It gi-dation we huve in, exi-tence afc the -present time, the recognition cif (he union, or anything that might be done in that connection i« to a large T'xtnnfc compulsory by sfiiliite law. Ilmve.ver, I am plea'Bftd'to have been here, and I _j.^-</-«»-!y tr.ist'if we cm) matiage !o effi-ct, this -<,S t-emeut and get ifc drawn up in, prop.-r f-irm, in.the futuie we will pet aloi.g togelht-r a grnst deal better than we have beeu doiuc duriuc

] the last five years. I think Mr Mills himself j will admit that in a large employ like theirs, where so many _ men and so many interests are - involved,- notwithstanding every effort tbat; is made by-employers ! to control the employed, disputes will arise; and I say when a dispute arises there must be some good ground for it. • I sincerely trust the I-' Union Company will relax a lifctie of their ; antipathy to ijjie union and. lend a reason-i ' j able ear to anything brought before them. I ! I I do not suppose they will be troubled with I ' ! trivialtiee. There will : have to be some I ! I good:cause of complaint before they will be I ] i troubled again. I have only again to thank the I . j board for what they have done in connection ' . j with the matter. . i i Mr Sim said : The members of the board I ' thank Mr Mills, Mr Ramsay, and "Mr Belcher ! ; : for what they have said of the efforts and j ;' labours of theboard, The faofc that the board j : j has been able.unanimously to make a recom- I -. mendation which has been practically accepted 1 ' by the parties to.the disputes is of it«elf a suffi- ■ cienfc reward for their labours. Jf the future i operations of the 06noiliati6ui'Boafd prove as I successful as they have been on this occasion I we shall have no reason to regret our appointment to the position.': i j The proceedings then closed. j