MASTERS AND OFFICERS ARE DETERMINED

Chronicle (Levin), 3 April 1947, Page 5

MASTERS AND OFFICERS ARE DETERMINED

WELLINGTON, April 2. Ships' masters and officers were now putting into effect their deeision to enter their * resignations' 7n proteSt ar the new awards issued this week, said Captain W. R, Williams, seeretary ot the New Zealand Merehant Service Guild today, Mr. Williams said that already 100 resignations had reached his office and he expeeted that there -would be another 150 within a day or two. They would be put in tlie hands of the employers next week. Captain Williams said that the Guild had been given a clear impression from the Arbitration Court that an inerease in pay would be granted but this had not been carried out and the pay rates remained at the 1939 level. The guild had received in Deeember last, a letter from the Court in which it was stated "having in mind the delav which has already occurred, we will be prepared to give consideration to any application that may be made to make the wages clauses , in the awards refrospective in operation tu sonie reasonable date," Subsequentlv the guild asked that the wages increases be macle retrospective, to *Jurm, •194(5, on the-' hatural assumption tbal there. would be increases. However, the rates were unchanged. The maSters and officers were determined that their grievance was just and that they were entitled to at least as much consideration as other groups were being given, said Captain Williams. In comment tonight on Mr. Norman 's claim that the aetion of the guild was uneonstitutional, Captain Williams said: "It is only necessarv in answer to this to quote the president of the Shipowners ' Federation — Mr. Norman 's own president, Captain S. Holm — who is reported as saying that the course masters and officers were taking was quite constitutional. ' ' Captain Williams said further thar the £12 war risk and gratuity bonus was, in cerfain circnmstauees, not paid at all. It was not paid when a vessel was being overhauled or ofl; articles, Botli 8f these operations lasted sometimes several months.