MARINE OFFICERS' WAGES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 53

MARINE OFFICERS' WAGES.

LONG-STANDING DISPUTE SETTLED. Mr P. Hally (Conciliation Commissioner) presided over the conference between representatives of the captains and deck officers of vessels over 2000 tons and representatives of the owners on tho 12th mst. Mr 0. Holdsworth and Mr D. A. Aiken represented the Union Steam Ship Company; Mr A. B. Johnson the Westport Coal Urnpanv ; Captain C. M'Arthur (of Wellington), the" Maoriland and Blackball Companies; and Captain D. J. Watson tho Merchant Service Guild. Huddart, Parker (Ltd.) is also a party to the dispute. The agreement arrived at by the parties was as follows: — MASTERS. 1. The steamers now owned by the several, employers and any other steamers to which 'the provisions of this .award shall, at ariy time hereafter, be applicable, and which are registered in and for trading in New Zealand, shall be classified according to their gross register tonnage as follows, and. employers shall pay each master at tho following rates and under the following terms, per calendar month, in accordance with the classification of his steamer: — Glass A.—Passenger Steamers. 1000 tons and under ... ~~ »«• ••• £26 1001 tons to 2000 tons ... ... «. 29 2001 tons to 3000 tons ... ... ... 33 3001 tons to 4000 tons ... ... Over 4000 tons 43 Class B.—Cargo Steamers. 1000 tons and under ... ... •« •••*?§ 1001 to 2000 tons ... 2001 to 3000 tons ... .»> ~. ... 30 3001 to 4000 tons „. «, «* 33 Over 4000 tons ... —u, 36 Steamers under 300 tons gross register are not subject to the award, and are excluded entirely. Within 12 months from vhe date of corning into operation of this award a new division shall be added to Class A (passenge? steamers) for steamers over 7000 tons gross, and the rate of pay for such division shall not be less than £45 per calendar month. 2. Holidays.—After 12 months' continuous service as master, every master shall be entitled, in each year, to leave of absence on full sea pay, at such time as the employer shall determine, for a continuous period of 21 days in the case of masters of passenger steamers and time-tabled cargo steamers, and 17 days in the case of masters ot cargo steamers. With the consent of the employer the leave of absence may bo postponed in whole or in part, and the unused leavo accumulated, so that it be not postponed beyond tho third year. The employer shall arrange for the leave of absence to begin and end at the master's home port. 3. Victualling Allowance. Whenever meals are not provided for a master on hi 6 ship (except during his leave of absence) he shall be paid a victualling allowance of 10s per day. 4. Transfer. —Whenever a master has to change his 'home port in consequence of a transfer from ono service or ship of the employer to another, he shall be allowed, on giving reasonable notice, free first classv passage for his family and free convevanco for his effects in any steamer of the employer that goes to or towards 'his destination.

5. Petty Expenses.—The employer shall pay any reasonable expenses of the master incurred in tho service or in the interests of the employer. 6. Standing-by.—A master when ashore standing by, or on transfer, shall, unless he is definitely discharged or disrated by the employer, continue to receive pay at the rate he was receiving in tho steamer of which he was last in command, and also the victualling allowance eet out in clause 3 hereof, but if disrated he shall receive pay at tho rate of the class or division to which ho is reduced. If reduced to the rank of " officer " he shall receive tho pay of the rank and class or division to which he is reduced, with the usual victualling allowance of such an officer. 7. Nothing in this award shall operate to diminish' the rate of pay which any master is receiving at the date of this award so long as he is employed in his present ship. 8. Exemptions.—(a) Steamers belonging to any of the employers bound to this award, and which trade to the Commonwealth of Australia., are exempt from the award (b) Steamers belonging to the Maoriland Steamship Company (Ltd.), and which are under 600 tons gross register, are also exempt from the award. 9. Term of the Award.—This award shall come into force from tho Ist.day of May, 1912. but shall apply to wages earned during the month of April, 1912, and shall continue in force until the 30th day of April, 1915. OFFICERS. 1. The steamers now owned by tho several employers and any other steamers to which tho provisions of this award shall, at any time hereafter, bo applicable, and which are registered in and or trading in Now Zealand, shall be classified according: to their gross register tonnage as follows, and employers shall pay each certificated officer, according to his rank on board, at the following rates and under the following terms, per calendar month, in accordance with the classification of the steamer in which he is employed. Class A. —Passenger Steamers.

Steamers under 303 tons gross register are not subject to the award, and are excluded entirely. 2.- Holidays. —After 12 months' continuous service with tho employer, every officer shall be entitled in eaoh year to leave of absence on full sea pay for a continuous period of 14 days at such time as the employer shall determine. The employer shall arrange, for the leave of absence to begin and end at the officer's home port. With the consent of tho employer the leave of absence may be postponed in whole or in part, and the an-

used leave accumulated, s 6 that it bo not postponed beyond the third year. 3. Victualling Allowance Whenever meals aro not provided for an oflicer on his ship (except during his leave of absence) he shall be paid a victualling allowance of 5s per day. 4» Transfer. —'Whenever an) officer has to change his home port, in consequence of a transfer from one service or ship of the employer to another he shall be allowed, on giving reasonable notice, free first class passage for his family and free conveyance for his effects in any steamer of the employer that goes to or towards his destination. 5. Hours of Work.—The hours of work for officers (at sea and in port) shall be 56 per week, exclusive of meal hours, to be worked as may be required by the employer. Any hours worked in excess of 56 in any one week shall bo carried to the credit of the officer, and his annual leave of absence on full sea pay shall be increased by one day for every eight hours of the time so placed to his credit during the previous 12 months, or at the option of the officer such time worked in excess of 56 hours in any one week shall be paid for as overtime at 2s 6d per hour. Subject to the provisions of this clause aa to extension of tho annual leave of absence or payment of overtime, all officers shall "be liable for duty at any time at sea or in port. Exclusive of tho 56 hours and without any credit for such excess time, or payment of overtime, all officers shall—(a) Give the necessary time on deck entering ancL leaving port to the satisfaction of and at tho discretion of the master; (b) attend when required any boat drill, fire drill, or medical inspection; (c) Do any work which is required for the safety of the ship. Tho week to mean the time from and including Monday to midnight on Sunday. 6. Time Off at Home Port.—ln cases m which a steamer is in port 24 hours or less, the officer whoso home port it is shall be entitled to be absent from the vessel from tho expiration of one hour after the vessel has been safely berthed until two hours before the time fixed for departure. If tho steamer is in port for more than 24 hours and less than 48 hours, the officer whose home port it is shall be entitled to be absent from the vessel for 24 consecutive hours from the expiration of one hour after the vessel hag been safely berthed. If the steamer is in port more than 48 hours then the officer whose home port it is shall bo entitled to be absent from the vessel for 36 consecutive hours from the expiration of one hour after the vessel has been safely berthed, and if after the expiry of such 36 hours the vessel remains longer in port the officer shall, in addition, be entitled to be absent from 5 p.m. on each day to 7 a.m. on the day following, during the vessel's stay in port. 7. Home Ports.—The home port of each officer shall be mutually arranged between the officer and his employer, and shall be stated in tho ship's agreement when the officer signs it. 8. Nothing in this award shall operate to diminish tho rate of pay which any officer is receiving at the date .of this award so long as ho is employed in his present ship. 9. Sick Pay.—Sick pay to be-«in accordance with the provisions of " Tho New Zealand Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908." and its amendments. 10. Exemptions.—(a) Steamers belonging to any of tho employers bound to this award" and which trade within the Commonwealth of Australia are exempt from the award; (b) steamers belonging to the Maoriland Steamship Company (Limited), and which are under 600 tons gross register, are also exempt from the award. 11. Term of Award. —This award shall como into force from the Ist of May, 1912, but shall applv to wages earned during the month of April, 1912, and shall continue in farce until the 30th day of April, 1915. . ' . The parties, on the motion of Captain M'Arfchur. passed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hallv for the able manner in which ho had conducted the conference.

3 u U 8 i S S (S e o o C ci o y •1 | 12 5 ofc o & fH SO £ £ £ £ 1000 tons and under... 16 13 11 10 1001 to 2000 tons 17 14 12 10 2001 to 3000 tons 18 15 12 10 3001 to 4000 tons 19 16 13 10 Over 4000 tons 20 17 14 10 Class E.— Cargo Steamers. 1000 tons and under... 16 13 11 10 1001 to 2000 tons 16 13 12 10 2001 to 5000 tons 17 14 12 10 3001 to 4000 tons 18 15 13 10 Over 4000 tons 18 15 13 10