WRECK OF THE DEVON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15857, 1 September 1913, Page 6

WRECK OF THE DEVON.

SALVAGE OF CARGO. LABOUR TROUBLES. (Pib United Paess Association.) * WELLINGTON,''August 31. On being formally ordered to begin work yesterday morning the waterside workers who had-been engaged to salvage the cargo of the wrecked i>eyon refused to do so unless they were paid at the rate of Ss per hour. This demand was decided upon at a meeting of the men yesterday morning. The difficulty, however, was got over after a delay of nearly two, hours, and during the morning the company's permanent men and others outside the union were cent to cairy out the work. The company has not yet got the number it requires.

The position was explained to a reporter by Mr N. Galbraith, of the New Zealand Shipping Company, for which company the .Devon had been chartered. He pointed out that the ordinary rates of pay under the waterside workers' agreement with the shipping companies was Is 6d per hour ordinary time, and 2s 2d per hour from then up till 10 p.m. This agreement is for wharf labour at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Timaru. A special arrangement for 12s per day is made' for work at outporte. A further provision is made for men engaged to work within the limits of any of the' harbours covered by this agreement to be paid from the time of leaving the place of engagement and up. to the time of arrival at the wharf on return. Although the wreck of the Devon is strictly within the harbour limits the men decided chat it was a special job, and made their clai-n accordingly. The shipping company, nowever, made a special offer of 2s per hrnr in the day-time and 3s per hour overtime, under the conditions existing to-day, whit-:i are practically that the men will be engaged on dry cargo, there being no neel for working in water. With the work becoming more arduous the shipping company was prepared to again consider the position. In order to avoid delay arrangJments were made with a certain numb >r «! permanent men and others to proceed w:'th the work, and these were conveyed to Hit scene of the week. As the men (those demanding the extra pay) claim that this particular; job is outside the agreement entered into the company considered \hat there was no option but to engage any 'outside labour offering. The steamer Awaroa returned from the wreck on Saturday evening with a large quantity of case oil, a case of machinery, and a motor car consigned to Messrs Df-x ter and Crozier (Auckland). The autilv.ry scow Echo left the wharf early this morning. and has been engaged all day in salvage work. The weather is fine, although a fairly strong northerly wind .'s blowing. The wreck is sheltered from it, and good progress with the recovery of cargo and fittings should be made.