SHIPS AND OVERTIME.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1006, 22 December 1910, Page 11

SHIPS AND OVERTIME.

' POSITION AT WELLINGTON. A PENAL CHARGE RETAINED. : •: A propqsal.tp tho effect that the regulations jio amended bo as to'.jibdlish or modify'tho penal cliarge oii—'wiioi and cargo imposed when ships are worked during other than the ordinary working hours was made by Mr. Jones at last night's meeting-of tho Wellington Harbour Board. .. Mr. Jones said that when overtimo was worked tho-ship had ..to pay extra iu the ease of' tho casual-labour it employed; tho Harbour.Board staff, tho clerical staff, and, if necessary, to Customs officials. Owners did not object to tbeso particular charges. But in addition the owners had to pay an additional chargo of one shilling per ton on every ton of cargo loaded before ? a.m. and after 5 p.m. on week days or after noon on Saturdays." He "was not seeking to try to help owners to escape their fair share of the.charges which tho board had-to-impose for the purposes of revenue. It was felt that tho charge became a hardship in-'the way in which jt' applied itself.. Overtime had to be worked only when n ship arrived late or when tho ship carried (an unusually heavy I 'cargo. He would like -to know the reasons why the charge was imposed. • Thero was only one other port in Australasia which adopted a similar charge, but the amount it imposed was. only hn-lf that charged by tho Wellington Board. He would not object if the. amoui/t so collected were collected from all vessels by another channel. •. .' v. V ' Mr. M'Eivan seconded the' motion. The chairman (Mr. R. Fletcher) sr.ic: that tho regulation had tail in force for close on thirty years. It had talei'-tho owners a long time to come to tho conclusion that.it was unfair. He thought the chargo was a proper charge. Owners only allowed overtime to bo worked for their own convenience. The charges were not largo when it was reniembered that it enabled vessels to 'keep their ; engagements.,. The Hon. T. It. Macdona'ld considered that oil tho whole the.charges.of the Wellington. Board- were ■ bheaber than those of any other .board in "New Zealand. jvlr. Harkness, was of opinion il-at the matter should bo referred to tlso Wharves and Accounts Committee. He woi;ld like to see a return prepared showing the effect of tho charge. Upon a. vote tile motion was lost. For tlio motion: Messrs. Dariiell, HarknoSß, M'Ewau, and Jones.. Against: Messrs. Bolton. Hildroth, Tcwsley, Macdonald, and Fletcher. ..