COASTAL SEAMEN'S AWARD.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14538, 16 October 1917, Page 4

COASTAL SEAMEN'S AWARD.

QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION.

APPLICATION TO COURT.

union not represented;

DECISION RESERVED

[United Press Association.]

Weifington, Oct. 15. An -application- by tJio Inspector op Awards ior the interpretation of certain clauses in dispute in the existing a«ree--ment between the coastal shipowners andl the setunen came before the Arbitration Court to-day. The Sea-men'p Union was not repro-

ail- Justice Stringer said it was to bo regretted' that the union was not present to assist tbo Court in interpreting the agreement. l *

Mr I S. Weetan;for-the shipowners suggested a shoit adjournment in order to give the unioß a final chance of being represented,"Which it mi^ht do th Co W°t o?lw3J>ninS or advice from

Mr Justice. Stringer, after consultation with his colleagues, said- "It appears that the Union lias had ample notheio should Oc any adjournment. » cannot pretend not to know what i« union sai^s-it .will have nothing to ck> wth the .Arfutnsj&on Court. Idb not think J ahoaW^vorto -and petition the.-.umon loc-oine-here. J. think thecase should go on, 3' .Air Wcston Court, as a commi&,ion under Regulation 2 of the Tradedecide it, where the manning- scale of tfio an<i .Seamen Act allows a sunJl vessel to <;i>rry. less than six" able seamen, it is essential to the safety ?Lf,n; i '•■°SSe th;vfc tw' 6 dpck *andY should be employed on deck at the same chS-." 1 :Kkikiur) to tho "racer m imßSKnfl^^ 1'"1-01' 1 That Is a mo«<> impoitant point. Mr T. g Woston, addressing the Court on behalf of the owner? sai I the Seamen's Onion had attempted to ta^e advantage of the terms of tr,, new agreement to sp-cure more overtime He.dedarcd that the request ro. two men sna watch was raised ;not lor the Ka fety of the puhlic, tmt to J^jre an interpretation which would STt, 7M° re overtime- One man in a Tr ii d "^ ?ncan on]y one on duty. In addition tlei-e was always an officer on the bridge, and in bad weather the captain was cith«- on t»-o !>ridae as " \ve!l or within easyfcnll. The owners ma not wish to Jose their boats ortare them cia?:jaged, so thoy would not send them to sea inadsquately stafred. The omvu:.an-in-a--ratch system had obtained for about fifty yeaW. •^ number cf ships' cfficPi's "gavtv evidence, all n^reeimr tlsat one "man in a watch was' sufScient. Air Wcst-on v.as about to call fnrtheievideuctt, but the President said it was uunecassary. The Court- recurved its decision.