SHIPS’ OFFICERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 30, 20 September 1911, Page 5

SHIPS’ OFFICERS.

ARBITRATION COURT AWARD. (Par Press Association.) Wellington, September 19. The award of the Arbitration Court in the Merchant Service Guild dispute has been filed with the Clerk of Awards (Mr Eustace Stocker). A number of demands were objected to. and the employers submitted countei proposals. The Court decided that the minimum rate of wages to be paid to certificated officers on steamers coining within the scope of the award shall be £ls per calendar piouth for first officers, and £l2 for second officers. Tho award applies only to steamers the gross toniiago of which is not less than 100 tons, and not more than 600 :ons. The Guild asked for £lB for a chief officer, £l4 for a second officer, and £l2 for a third officer of ships of 1000 tons register and under, but the employers offered, on steamers from 241 to 600 tons, £l4 to £ls for first, officer on passenger boats, and £l3 to £l4 on cargo boats; for second officer, £ll to £l2 on passenger steamers, and £lO to £ll on cargo boats. Except in special circumstances connected with the safety of a steamer, an officer shall not be kept at work continuously, for more than twelve hours without an interval of at least four hours. When an officer is in bis home port, his work in connection with discharging and loading cargo shall be so arranged and limited as to give him as much time off as is reasonably possible, and lie shall not be required to supervise the work of cleaning or painting or any similar work in such port. Officers, after . twelve months’ continuous service, shall be entitled to fourteen days’ holiday annually on full sea pay, such holiday to ho taken at a time convenient to the employer. Such holidays may be allowed to accumulate by agreement, but not beyond three years. If an officer is discharged for any cause other than misconduct, lie shall receive payment in lion of holiday in proportion to the time of service from his holiday or the date of his engagement. Whenever an officer has to change his home port in consequence of a transfer from one service or shipowner to another, ho shall be allowed, on giving reasonable notice, free first-class passage for his family and effects in any vessel of tho owner that goes to or towards his destination. Employers shall not discriminate against members of the union, and slnM not, in tho engagement or dismissal of officers, do anything directly or indirectly for the purpose of injuring the union. A victualling allowance of 4s per day is .provided for when meals arc not given on board. Tho sum asked for was ss. The award comes into force on October 2, 1911, and continues for two vears.