SHIPPING DISPUTE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 960, 9 March 1917, Page 3

SHIPPING DISPUTE.

AN AGREEMENT REACHED

CONFERENCE ADOPTS AUSTRA-

LIAN CONDITIONS Press Association

WELLINGTON, March 8

The conference between the shipowners and the Federated Seamen and Firemen's Union was resumed to-day. There was a large attendance of both sides, and the Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Marine) presided.

After a lengthy discussion, an agreement was arrived at which will be embodied in an industrial agreement to be sifbmitted to the executive of the union for ratification.

The principal feature of the agreement will be the acceptance of an eight-hours' day, which will be universal, except on vessels plying within the river and extended limits, mostly from Auckland. In the case of these vessels a week's work will comprise 50 hours, with the right of working ten hours on any one day, after which overtime at the rate of 2/- per hour will be paid. ~\ all other ships eight hours will constitute a day's work, overtime ra'es being paid after that number of hours have been worked.

The wages to be paid have . been advanced for seamen by £1 15/- per month, and the universal rate of overtime will be as already slated— II- per hour.

Other minor alterations in the agreement have been made. Generally the whole of the conditions of the Australian working arrangement have been adopted in New Zealand.

At the close of the conference, Mr Aiken (manager of the Union Company), on behalf of the shipowners, and Messrs W. Belcher and W. T. Young, on behalf of the union, expressed the thanks of the conference to the Minister for his coinciliatory spirit and the tact he had displayed throughout, which had largely contributed to the successful result that had been achieved.

In replying, Mr Russell said he realised that the situation was one in which difficulties might have been raised, but on account of the conciliatory spirit shown on both sides, the conference had been brought to a successful issue. Increase in wages and improvement in working conditions were part of a world-wide wave that was being experienced at the present time, particularly in the British Empire. The result of war conditions at Home would be to raise the whole standard of living and the rates of pay in the Mother Country, and they in New Zealand were bound to experience the same conditions.