THE PATEA STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1065, 2 March 1911, Page 2

THE PATEA STRIKE.

FINAL SETTLEMENT. UMPIRE'S AWARD, UNION" OVERTIME DEMAND REFUSED. Tho Fatea wharf labour dispute was finally settled yesterday, when Mr. J. W. Poynton gave his decision, as umpire, by which both parlies liavo agreed to abide. It will be remembered that a board of arbitrators was set up, with Mr. W. Pryor as representative of the shipowners interested, and Mr. D. M'Laren, 31.P., of tho Patea Union, while Mr. Poynton was appointed umpire. The only matter remaining in dispute was that of overtime payment. As the union and employers' representatives were unable to agree, Mr. Poynton was called upon, and gave yesterday tho decision which is detailed below. His ruling affirms the position taken up by the employers. The Case for the Union. Tho text of Mr. Poynton's decision is as follows:— The workers contended that they should bo paid at the rate of 2s. Gd. per hour for overtime, for these reasons:— 1. Owing to tho increase in tho cost of living in recent years tho rates previously paid are not sufficient to give a living wage now. The workers have to wait for the boats which have to be unloaded and loaded, and this prevents them from taking up anything but intermittent casual labour on shore. While waiting for a boat, which would mean employment for three or four hours, enabling* a man to earn Gs.. other work would be lost, which might havo given 10s. or more. 2. Patea is a third-rate port. In bigger ports work is much more constant, and good men can earn more money working ordinary hours, and are not so dependent on overtime; 2s. 6d. per hour overtime is paid in Picton, Nelson, Timaru, and Wanganui. 3. The work of loading and unloading in Patea is very much harder than in other ports. Vessels have to bo unloaded and loaded hurriedly in order towork by the tides, as the bar is bad. Tho vessels are larger now than they were some years ago, and a greater amount of cargo has to be handled in a given time than formerly. This means working at higher speed than in other ports not so dependent on tides for tho working of vessels. 4. At tho conference between the workers and (ho shipowners when all questions were boing discussed tho union conceded several important points in the hope of getting the overtime rato fixed at 2s. Gd. Tho points stated to have been conceded were: (a) Work on holidays: The demand for Is. per hour was roducod to 3s. Gd. and 2s. Gd. on certain days. In Wanganni ss. per hour is paid, (b) The demand regarding the weight of cargo in slings was dropped. Tho weight of these slings it was stated has' increased from 5 or G cwt. to from 8 to 10 cwt. during the last five years, (c) Tho preference clause was modified so that men would not be allowed to take casual work on shore if their services were required by the shipowners, (d) The demand that in the interests of safety a hatchman (either a sailor or waterside worker) should be provided whose duty it was to stand by the hatch during loading operations was also waived. Other ports require a hatchman. (e) The request for 2s. 9d. per hour for work during meal hour, was dropped also. At Wanganui tho rate is 2s. 9d. It was agreed to bo 2s. Gd. at Patea. (f)' The .demand for a minimum of time for employment' after engagement was reduced from two hours to bile hour. In some ports it is two hours—in others according to tho time of engagement it is one hour or two hours, (g) The domand for a Saturday halpcjliday was- mooted ■.aiityjfour p, m . accepted as the hour for ceasing work on Saturday instead of 1 p.m. as asked at first.-

5. The night work necessitated by the exigencies of the port is dangerous, the hatch space in small lioats ljcing very much , more confined than in larger vessels; the work also being harder and loss pleasant in tho smaller space available. The Shipowners' View. The contentions were opposed by the employers, who asserted that:— 1.- Considering the amount of spare time the men had they could largely supplement their earnings by casual work ashore. Notice is always given of the expected arrival of boats, and there is no necessity to bo in constant attendant as in other ports. 2. The port of'Patea differs from other ports. Wnnganui is not a rival, but New Plymouth is. Patea is the port of South Taranaki, and Now Plymouth of North Taranaki. Each has the same sort of exports and imports, and each competes with the other for the trade of the district lying between them. :If rates are raised in Patea it will drive much of .this trade away to New Plymouth. At New Plymouth tho rate for overtime is 2s. only. That port should be considered, and not Nelson, Picton, or Wanganui, or any other in relation to Patea. 3. The vessels working at Patea are no larger , now than was the case several years ago. Tho same vessels have traded to the port for years past. Work is no harder noiv than formerly. i. The concessions alleged to have been made at the conference were not concessions at all. To make unreasonably high demands and then accept something less is not a concession, and no credit is claimable for it. The men knew from the start that the claim for overtime at 2s. Gd. per hour would not bo granted, and cannot now say that concessions were made in other things with a view to getting this 2s. 6d. For such small boats as use the port of Patea a hatchman is not necessary, and is not employed in other places. It has never been the custom to employ a hatchman at Patea. Tho minimum of one hour's employment after engagement was not regarded as important, and tho employers would not have opposed an increase to two hours. This point had not been pressed. A Saturday half-holiday was not enjoyed in other ports by workers such as were employed in Patea—only permanent salaried officials got it. !>. Tho dangers of the work were not great. Few accidents took place, as was .proved by the absence of claims under the Workers' Compensation Act.

Proved Facts. Much ovidenco was given oil theso points, and on others not of much importance in the matter. . The enso was ably and clearly handled by Mr. George •Smith, secretary of the Patca Watcrsiue Workers' Union, on behalf of tho men, and by Mr. William Bcnuet, acting lor _tho employers. It was proved:— 1. That owing to the shallow water on the bar and tho difficulty of working tho port, only small vessels were loaded and unloaded in the Patea harbour. 2. That, as the time for unloading, loading, and getting out was limited to a brief period, there was a necessity for hurrying, which did not exist in other more favoured ports. 3. That the earnings of good workmen, apart from what they got from work ashore, were in one case .£lll (for ten months); in another .£lO6 45., in a third iiOT lis., a fourth <£72 12s. Cd. for eight months; a fifth received ,£74 lis. Gd. for eight and a half months' work, and a sixth .SoG 3s. 4d. for loss than seven months' work. Tho man who received .£97 lis. in one year of wharf labour was employed during his sparo time at wellsinking, asphalting, excavating, painting, and'secretarial work. His total earnings including tho .£97 lis., amounted to about .£llO, certainly not a largo income for an energetic, handy man. This was the greatest amount earned by any of the men during tho year. Two others earned more than ho did at wharf labour, but less at other work. ■1. That work between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (ordinary time), would be about 65 per cent., and outside that time 35 per cent, of the whole work done. 5. That, taking the number of tons loaded and unloaded during a voar and tho number of men employed' shifting the cargoes, the work must bo done at fairly high pressure whilo it lasts, but the spells of work are not long. (i. That tho average earnings of the workers, including moneys received for .work dono on shore, were less than those of first-class men in constant work at wharf labour in Wellington, but greater than those not continuously eo employed!.

7. That 110 profiLs were being made by the shipowners. The Decision, In considering tho claim for 2* 6d overtime, these J'acts must be kent ill view:— - (a) Overtime at I'alva is not usually a ". exhausting effort, involving a continuation of y.orlt alter the usual dailv exertion, as in some other places. Spells of moik there are not long, ami from necessity cannot bo confined to the usual dav hours Work of three or five hours' sti etches stancd at o p.m., when 110 work has been done previously during the dav, is obviously diileront from the same labour carried on after a full day's work of the same kind. , (b) It is ikk a case of greedy cmplovers oppressing their workers to inerenso their prolits. Ihe employers are carrying on their business under serious, difficulties and vithout profit. The troubles already experienced by them will be increased by any addition to (ho present working expenses. . All hough the total amount involved in the claim is not groat, and if it' were possibie to pass it on to the customers of tie employers it would hardly»' be felt, Vm canno ,^J sG done in the present case. The decision is therefore against the claim for an increase of the rato for overtime from 2s. to 2s. Gd. . The terms of the award when - drawn up should not he made to apply to regular salaried employees of the shipowners.