LABOUR WORLD.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17128, 25 April 1921, Page 7

LABOUR WORLD.

MERCANTILE MARINE WAGES. IMPORTANT REDUCTIONS ARRANGED. (By Cable—Press (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received April 24th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 22. The conference called by the Maritime Board resumed consideration of the proposal to reduce wages. After a long and friendly discussion the seafarers' representatives agreed to recommend their constituents to accept the following terms, which the shipowners' representatives accepted, namely, from May 6th the wages of the officers and men will be reduced by £2 10s a month on monthly boats, and 8s 7d a week on weekly boats. It was further agreed that the rates for overtime and "runs" should be revised by the various panels within a month.

It was also agreed to set up a special committee of nine members, representing the seafarers, and nine members representing the shipowners, to examine the practicability of framing a scheme for the permanent regulation of wages on an agreed basis. [A message from London on March 2nd said:—The Australian Press Association understands that the Shipping Federation is submitting proposals to the National Maritime Board, representing all classes of maritime capital and labour, for a reduction in wages by from 15 to 25 per cent. The National Maritime Board has intimated to the Merchant Service Guild that the Board wishes to consider an immediate reduction of 90s monthly in the pay of navigating and engineering officers and other members of the deck and engineering staffs, and also a reduction of 110s monthly in the catering departments, with an entire revision of overtime conditions for all ratings.] SEAMEN'S TJNIOiTaND CHINESE. (Received April 24th, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 24. The Federated Seamen's Union has called a stop-work meeting for Tuesday to discuss the question of admission of coloured seamen to the Union. This is the result of a recent utterance by Mr Walsh, General Secretary of the Union, that if 2000 Chinese applied for membership they would be admitted. WORKERS AND UNION OFFICIALS. (Received April 24th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 22. The raiders evaouated. Transport House after an understanding had been effected with the Union officials. JTho rank and file of the Vehicle Workers' Union seized Transport House, the Union's central office, turned but the officials, and decided to carry on the work in accordance with their own wishes. The action was the outcome of protest meetings held in London on the ground that the officials refused to carry out the members' mandates, and had been secretly discusisng matters referring to. a reduction of wages without notifying the members.]