SHIPS' OFFICERS' TROUBLE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12587, 18 October 1911, Page 5

SHIPS' OFFICERS' TROUBLE.

(Per Press Association.), (.HrUSTCfHURCH, this day. . Tlie Conciliation Council (Mr I. Hally, Commissioner) sat m JJunedin this morn-, ing, to hear the .assessors m the dispute between the Uifion «..S. : Co- bf^New Zealand, iAd.,. <iud the other lar fe re shipowners, and the--: Merchants' !Servic> Guild. Captain D. J. Watson (secretary -ol':.th© Guild) is the sole repfesenta'tive of the Guild at this Opnferenee. 'I'he 'Uuild is' asking for increased wages, and .improved working conditions, its 'demands being framed on the lines; of the Australian inter-State- officers' award. ■Payment for overtime 'wWked is "an im -| portant: feature of the demands,' and it is anticipated that the-q'Uestibri ; of ovejjtime wall' be the central ptii lit of "the dispute. In some quarters the" prospects of a^satisfactory agreement' beiug arriyed 'at before the Cbuncii afe regarded' as somewhat remote, as.it is stated Ihe Union S.S. C 0 .,. 'is : ; likely to refuse any demands for overtime; * Others again •are very sanguine, and fully expect a settlement of., the t dispute. In the meantime .the S^iipow^iers! 'Federatiipn.'and the masters and. ■ officers* of the small coastal steamers now- out of commission are greatly interested- in ' the' result of the conference.

Captain D/ •J. Watson arrived < from ■Wellington by :the ! Maoris '^esterda.y morning,, and left by'the first express for Dunedin. Seen on the Lyttelton rviharf by a repTresentatire, Captain "Watson said .there was no change m the position of affairs, and nothing fivesli to report m regard to the dispute between the officers of the small coastal boats and 'the owners. " > Practically ' the whole of the fleet, of small steamers was now laid* up. With i/egard to the sitting of the Conciliation Council at Duhedin to-day, Captain Watson ,was unable to. give any information, or make any definite' statement. He admitted that the piece d(e resistance would- be the question of payment ,for overtime, but lie Wxis very hopeful that an amicable ' agreement would be awivied at, and that the ques-.. tions of increased wages and improved working* condition's woxtld be -.settled* m a mannei'that would' satisfy both eides. Captain Watson said that the outcome of to-day'& conference was being looked forward 'to with keen interest by both owners and officers of the small coastal' boats, as a settlement.; iji> respect of the large steamers Mould give the l«ad for a settlement ■■•.of. thei. deadlock. iii» the case of the small coastal vessels. : Tha, mini- :- rnunt rates of pay demanded 'for fust. and .second officers m steamers of , ovev 1000 tons register ,, were being asked for as the maximum m vessels of under 1000 tons. ■ ■•— , DUNEDIN, this day. _ Proceedings- ,- before the Conciliation, Commissioner, Mv Hally, .re tJie •shipping dispute, are- being conducted m camera.' . -- '■ - •.Altar two;Jioui's' deliberation, the Contciliation Court adjourned the shipping dispute till to-mbr^o\\o ..-..-..