FOR SHIPS' OFFICERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1006, 22 December 1910, Page 8

FOR SHIPS' OFFICERS.

THE NEW REGIME. A TALK WITH CAPTAIN WATSON, BETTER PAY AND HOURS. Among passengers arriving hero from Sydney yesterday was Captain Watson, who'represented the New Zealand section of the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia in connection with' the claim of the guild against tlio. Commonwealth Steamship-owners' Federation. The claim was for higher wages and better conditions of employment for masters and officers in the intcr-Stato service. Interviewed yesterday, Captain Watson said, that tlie parties had como. to an agreement which, had yet to be cmbodied in an award. It was true that the masters and officers had not obtained as high rates as they had desired.. They had asked for a 17 per cent, increase, but had only got increases representing about half that amount. As regarded other matters, however, they had fared better than they had anticipated'. "I 'think," ho continued, "that 'things are only settling down. Tlie masters and officers have only got now what they should have got years ago.. Even now I-don't think that they .will be too w.cll paid for their services." Captain Watson also remarked that the proposed , award, which would be. signed on December 31 and which applied only to steamships, would bo for, a period of three years. • ; The New Salaries. The parties agreed that the minimum rates. of Tjages per calendar month for masters and navigating officers of vessels of the various respondent companies (if they are members of the claimant organisation) shall be as under;— Passenger Vessels. . -'b -8. . '$ ,o a " , .J J; I,* - Q) »-3 | . £ O 02 EH i -£ & £' . £ 1000 tons and under 25 16 13 11 1000 to 2000 28 17 14. 12 2000 to 3000 . 32 18 15. 12 3000 to 4000 37 19 16 13 Over 4000 tons 43 ' 20 17 14 In the case of fourth and fifth officers the minimum'salary ;is fixed' at £10 per month. ' ' '■■■■ 1 On Cargo Vessels. £' o, g « s ■ ffi o -a ■1 i'% I 3 • £ '.t: .rt O a> EH £ £• £ £ 1000 tons and- under 24 lo 12 11 1000-to-2000 ■ ......... '27 16 13 12 2000.t0 3000 ■" 30 17 34 12 3000 tb 4000 33 18 15. 13 Over '4000' tons ......... '36 .18 ,\ls 13 In the case of . fourth and fifth officers tho" rates are to' Ve'• the same as : for passenger. vessels. ' Terminating Engagements. It is provided that when a master or . officer has served three months I 'on any of the respondents' ships the servico shall bo terminable only by a month's notice on either .side. Thi3. clause,' however, shall not apply to vessels engaged ill season's sugar, cattle,, and timber services, nor for . emergency trips, nor where, vessels (owing to a strike in the coal or shipping industries) aro taken, out of commission, nor 'in any case where officers are discharged for misconduct, nor in the case of officers relieving any of the navigating staff when such reliovihg officers have •been employed for less than three months regularly or irregularly during a period of 12 months immediately .. preceding: tilicir dismissal. Nor shall the owners, bo 'compelled to givo the specified notice when they desire to transfer a master or officer from oiio'ship to another. Tho pay of a master or officer shall not cease during transfer. ■ ■ • ( Annual Holiday. Each year every master and officer shall bo entitled to leave of absence on full sea pay—the master for a continuous period of 21 days, or for such further period (not exceeding 28 days) as may cover, his usual voyage from departure to return, to his homo l>ort, and the officer for a continuous period of 14 days. Tho leavo. of absence shall begin and end at .the master's or the officer's liome port. With tho consent .of the ship-owner the . leave may be post- " poned' in whole or in part,- and .the linjised leave accumulated so that it be i ifot postponed beyond tho third year. . , Hours and Overtime.

' Every master and officer shall be entitled to be absent from 'his vessel at his home port froni the expiration of ono hour after the vessel lias been safely berthed until two hours, beforo the time fixed for her departure. But this clause does not relievo the master of his necessary duties at the shipping office or. at the Customhouse. Except as previously provided every and officer shall be liablo to duty at any .time at sea, or in port,': but he shall not be-liable in any one day to duty in port for more than eight hours. Overtime was 'fixed •as follows:. A master at the .rate of ss. -per .liour and an officer at the rate of 2s. 6d. -per liour. Relieving officers, if they are certificated officers' shall, be paid for tho time of relieving at a. rate not less than the wages of a second officer employed on the vessel. Whenever meals are not provided for a master or'officer on liis ship (exceptduring' leave) ho shall: bo paid; a victualling allowance —a master at-the rate of 10s. per day, and an officer at the rate of ss. per day. In case of transfer from ono port or'place to another a master or officer shall bo allowed first-class travelling expenses. The sliip-owner shall also pay any, reasonable expenses of .the master incurred'in tho sorvico' orin the interests "of tho ship-owicr. Award May be Varied. . Whenever a master or officer has' to change his home port in consequence of a transfer from, ono service or ship of the ship-owner to another he.shall bo allowed, on giving reasonable notice, free first-class passage for his family and effects in any vessel of the shipowner that goes to or towards his destination. The agreement shall, during the term it. is in force, bo subject to any variation which the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration may see fit "to make. Any future ships' articles signed by members of the claimant organisation shall incorporate expressly or by reference to terms of the agreement as it stands from timo to time. All existing and future ships' articles shall bo deomed to bo subject to the terms of the agreement and any variations which may ho made.