MASTERS PAID LESS THAN SEAMEN

Chronicle (Levin), 11 September 1946, Page 8

MASTERS PAID LESS THAN SEAMEN

— * — —Press Associqtion

By Teleamvh-

WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. Or>. many pay slieets in New Jjealand, it was invariably found' that a mastec wa& well dovvn on tlie sheet and foc sorae nionths able seamen had drawn niore tlian the master. Tliis statement was made today by Captain W. R. Williams in the Arbitration Court, in put- i ting the case for the masters and of@. ■ eers in an appiication for a new award for members of the New Zealand Merchant Service Guild Industrial Union of Worlters in the New Zealand coast^l service. Tnc hearing followed.an appiication. eoncluded today, for an increase in remuneration and improv ement in conditions for masters and officers in the employ of the Union Oompany. Decision was reserved. Referring to the appiication for an award for the masters and officers in the eoastal service, Nlr. Williams said the anomaly had existed for a very long timo 'in regard to wages for officers. Twenty-six years ago a chief officer of a vessel from 601 tons to 1000 tons received £27 6s 8d monthly. Today the sarne officer received £28 11s Sd, a difference of £1 os monthly. Twenty years ago a watersider received 2/- hourly while today he received 3/5 hourly, which, plus bonuses, at times brought him up to 4/6 hourly on the average. ilr. Williams said he desired to make it clear that although it was necessary that he should contrast the rate of remuneration of other sections of the maritime community, he did not suggest that tlieir remuneration was in the slightest degree too high. For the New Zealand Federated Shipowners, Mr. G. II. Norman said the award had not been before the Court since 1939. As at that time, the main matters for decision by the Court novv were in regard to wages and 'overtime with the addition on this occasion of hours of duty and also time off which was eomplimentary to hours of duty. A new ciauso "navigation bonus" introduced into the clnims by the Marchant Service Guild, was linked with the wages clause.