INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18198, 19 March 1921, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

WAGE REDUCTION PROPOSALS. MARITIME BOARD’S DISCUSSIONS. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 17. ... The Maritime Board’s discussions on the proposed reductions were adjoumed_ for a month to enable the parties to deliberate on the question.—A. and N.Z. Cable. [A cablegram from London on March 2 stated: The Australian Press understands that the Shipping Federation is submitting proposals to the Maritime Board, representing all classes of maritime capital and labour, for a reduction in wages by 16 to 25 per cent. The National Maritime ■Board intimated to the Merchant Service Guild that the board wishes to consider an immediate reduction of 90s monthly in the pay of navigating and engineering officers and the other*deck and engineering staff; also a reduction of 110 a monthly in the catering departments, with an" entire revision of overtime ‘ conditions for all ratings] NEW SOUTH WALES COLLIERIES. OUTPUT SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. OWNERS CONTEMPLATE CLOSING I>OWN. TEN STRIKES WEEKLY. SYDNEY, March 18. The coalowners' state, that' during the war the output diminished through the collieries not working full time. Unless some change is brought about, it is stated,' the owners contemplate laying all the mines idle until they are assured that the miners will work regularly and honestly. Despite the Mines Department’s statistics, the coalowners contend that the rate of output has diminished. Strikes, they say, are frequent and without cause. Since January the average has been 10 strikes weekly, involvAg a loss in production of 100,000 tons. A comparison of the department’s statistics in 1913 and 1920 shows that the output in 1913 was 10,414,000 tons, that the employees numbered 18,843, the average per man working below ground • was 799 tons, and' the average per man for all (working below _ and above ground) was 623 tons. In" 1920 the output was 10,716,000 tons, with - 19,965 employees. The average per man below ground was 761 tons, and the average below and above was 638 tons.