SEAMEN'S WAGES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17419, 1 April 1922, Page 18

SEAMEN'S WAGES.

LOWER KATES SOUGHT. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, March 31. The SeaineH*s dispute created Dy the employers, who seek a return to 1*917 conditions, came up before the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr W. Newton, to-day. Mr W. (J. smith stated that the employers' proposals were framed, and covered seamen's conditions and 'wages rifeht throughout the LKmiinioh. no claimed that if they were to carry on operations without losses they must have some modification of the present fates and conations. The important principle of the eight-hour day wns agreed to in 1917. 'flic companies did not seek to alter that, but desired to revert to the general provisions of tli.it agreement, which hud worked well ior three years. Referring to the competition shipowners had to meet, he said there was practically 110 competition in New Zea.and waters, but they had to meet competition outside New Zealand waters. For instance, a Uritish company only this week had seared the Nauru-Auckland pnospliatc trade at Jh Od per gra;s ton per month, but the Union Company's running expenses and capital charges amounted to L's per tan, exncty double. It- was obvious the Union Company was quite unable to compete under such cin-uni-fct.-nvcs. Mr Smith qnoie.l the rates of pay showing competitors paid considerably lower wall's. Mr W. T. You.iii interjected: Your company had a advr.ntige during tJie war. Mr Stnitli retorted that during the war there was no competition. The position was now reversed and competition was ki'f-n. .Mr Vouir' said the companies trading from British Coiunv>ia paid their men £2 ncr month more than the Union Company.