MARINE ENGINEERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15706, 7 March 1913, Page 6

MARINE ENGINEERS.

AMICABLE AGREEMENT. ( MEN'S DEMANDS CONCEDED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 6. Tho trouble between the Union Steam Shipping Company and tho New Zealand Institute of Marine Engineers was satisfactorily terminated to-day. A strike affccting the wholo of the company's men in tho engine rooms was imminent on Monday, but both partiee to tho disputo were agreeablo to submit to conciliatory methods. Tho drastic step taken by the engineers in giving 24- hours' notice to cease work was due to vacillation on the part of tho company in not coming to grips earlier with the men on the questions in dispute, which had been simmering for many months. A stupendous strike just hung in the balance. On Tuesday tho word had passed right through the company's New Zealand fleet that work would bo stopped unices terms were conceded in keeping with tho Australian marine engineers' award. Tho Maheno was delayed in sailing from Sydney on Wednesday night for Auckland until the engineers had heard from Wellington as to how the position stood. In view of tlie satisfactory nature of tho conference on Wednesday a cablegram was sont to Sydney informing the men that matters were being adjusted, and 60 tho vessel was enabled to sail after a few hours' delay. There is a general feeling of relief at the conciliatory turn events have taken The principal task at the outset seemed to bo m bringing responsible representatives of both parties together. This was fortunately accomplished by Mr P. Hally, (Conciliation Commissioner), who, by his earnest endeavours, 6uoceededi in arranging matters so that both sides wero got to a conference under the presidency of the Prime Minister. Once seated round the tabic they wero able to argue the olaims of the institute and the counter claims of the company on their merits, and the result was tho following official .statement containing the basis of the settlement:— After the conference this morning tho following statement was prepared for : tho press:—"lt is understood that the engineers had some time ago made demands for increased pay and other privileges, the intention being to bring their pay and privileges into line with those enjoyed by the engineers in Australia under a rccent award of tho Arbitration Court there. The company had already agreed to concede the Australian wagc6, but demurred at the payment of overtime, proposing in lieu thereof a fixed supplementary monthly payment. Mr Massey upheld tho engineers' claims in regard to overtime, and these were therefore conceded. Tho engineers will now work under tho Australian award as' regards wiges, overtime, and other privileges, the difference between tho conditions in New Zealand and Australia being now of very minor character. Tho conference between tho Union Company and tho engineers has been of a very friendly nature, and thero is every reason to believe that tho amicable relationship which' has always existed between the company and its engineers will bo undisturbed."

MAHENO'S DELAY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, March 6. The Maheno's delay was cauecd through the engineers demanding Australian rates and conditions. After cabling fo Now Zealand, and after the engineers had conferred with tho. interstate marine engineers, the matter was arranged, and the steamer sailed. REVIEW OF THE POSITION. THE OVERTIME QUESTION. (Fiiom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, March 6. The Prime Minister, On being approached this evening, declined to make any detailed reference to his connection with, the settlement of the marine engineers' dispute, but ho remarked that nothing could have been better or more gratifying than the perfectly friendly spirit w;ith which tho members of tho conference approached the exceedingly difficult question with which they had to deal.

As soon 06 it has undergone Gnal revision the agreement between the Union Company and ibs New Zealand engineers will be registered under the Arbitration Act and will thereafter bo enforcable as an award. Tho term of the agrement will be three years, which is the maximum period permitted under the Arbitration Act, and the rates of wages will be those paid under tho Australian award, which henceforth will to the New Zealand rates. In the pa6t the salaries of tho New Zealand marine engineers have been based upon the indicated horse-power, tho record of tho actual performance of a vessel's engines. Henceforth the salaries, as under tho Australian award, will be based upon tho numerical horsepower, whic'n is arrived at by calculating tho dimensions of a steamer's cylinders. Indicated horse-power is a variablo quantity, according to whether a vessel is driven at lier full normal' power or under. In the past the New Zealand engineers have suffered a reduction in salaries where steamers havo been habitually driven at lots than their normal power. On the other hand, •where a steamer was habitually driven at the top of her speed, tho engineers were recompensed by increased salaries for the extra work this entailed.

In adopting the Australian plan of computing salaries by nominal horse-power "the conference was influenced by a desire to roach a uniform system in Australasia. Under Now Zealand law tho manning of ships is based upon indicated horse-power, and this, of course, will stand unaltered.

Although, as has been stated, the new agreement will give New Zealand engineers an increaso in salaries of an average of about 15 per cent., the amount of the increaso will vary considerably in different grades. In some oases the increase will be only £1 per month, in others £1 10s per month, and in others £2 per month. Tho following arc particulars of 6!io present and new rates in vessels of tho class indicated :— Average intercolonial passenger steamor: Present rates: Chief engineer, £28 10s; second £20; third engineer, £14 10s; fourth engineer, £12 IDs. New.rates: Chic! engineer. £32; second engineer, £22; third engineer, £18; fourth engineer, £15. High-powered cargo steamer, intercolonial trade:— Present rate: Chief engineer. £25; second engineer, £17 10s; third engineer, £14 10s; fourth engineer, £12. New rates: Chief engineer, £26; second engineer, £20; third engineer, £17; fourth engineer, £14. •> On one of the lowest-paid steamers in the Union Company's fleet tho old and new rates will be as under: — Present rates: Chief engineer, £21; scoond engineer, £16; third engineer, £14. ■ \ , New rates: Chief engineer, £22; second engineer, £17 10s; third engineer, £14 10s. The new and old rates in tho more important passenger ferry steamers approximate closely to those on the intercolonial passenger boats.

Tile all-important question settled at yesterday's conference was that of overtime. Hitherto the New Zealand engineers havo received no OYertiine. They have now been conceded the Australian award rates, and .will be paid for overtime ait the rate of 2s 6d per hour. Practioally the only' difference that will now exist botween the Commonwealth and New Zealand overtime conditions is in regard to Sunday duty. The Australian award provides that when a vessel departs from one of the principal ports on a Sunday before 10 a.m. each engineer on duty shall bo entitled to an extra day's f-ea pay. Tho representatives of t-ho engineers have agreed that this provision should bo omitted from tho.New Zealand agreement.

Experienced engineers who were spoken to expressed 'the ■ opinion that tho result of ■the adoption of tho system of overtime payment on New Zealand steamers would bo that overtime would bo red-uoed to a minimum. This, it is stated, is exactly what the engineers desire. Sir James Mills will leave for Duncdin to-morrow evening.

Mr P. C. Webb (president of the Now Zealand Federation of Labour), when seen bv a. Daily Times reporter yesterday prior to tho announcement cf l:ho result of tho ocnferaioc, en-id the Union Company must of necessity accede to tho demands of the engineers. These were in no way exorbitant, and were based on tho conditions with respect to overtime that obtained in Australia. In his opinion tho company had no alternative but to accede to the request.