SHIPS' OFFICERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1273, 31 October 1911, Page 4

SHIPS' OFFICERS.

v DISPUTE STJM, UNSJiTTIJSD, Captain Watson, secretary of the Merchant Service Guild, returned yesterday from a visit to Auckland. Tlio terms to which lie, with tile utlior guild a.ssewjr.-, agreed Til A nckl.md, |>la< f\s the officers trading to vhat iwrt in just the frame position as the Wellington men would ii.'ivo been had they to work under tlie award of the Al'lji"ration Court, 'l'ho wages for tho same c-Jass of tli Minors tiro the .wine, and the conditions, so far a.s they are governed by tho agreelnent, are practically the samo . 'JalUing of this with a representative of 'JlliK Dominion last evening, C'<iptain Watson tiaid that Iho reason for the Auckland officers being satisfied with less than those in Wellington held out for was thnt tlio work in tho Auckland trade was much lighter. The officers worked very little overtime in Auckland, and they were homo every .Saturday and Sunday. The shipowners met yesterday morning to discuss, amongst other things, tho Auckland agreement, and they were' of opinion, as the result of investigations, that the work of officers trading on the Auckland coast was no lighter than that of tho Wellington officers. And yc<t the Auckland men hail been satisfied to go without overtime pay. A meeting of the guild was hold yesterday afternoon, after tho arrival of Captain 'WaUon by the train. Before anything of any account was decided, however, tho meeting wa.s adjourned until this morning. A persistent rumour was current yo-;t«rday that the delay which is being experienced in tho settlement of the dispute lias led to a little disaffection in the ranks, and that there is eomo talk of a ballot to dccide tho question of a return to work. Tho enforced idleness of tho boats has led to the closing of one (shipping offico —that of the Patrci Company. Our correspondent at Wangnnui telegraphs ns follows: —"Local shipping circles are of opinion that tho coastal officers' strike will be settled within the next fortnight, and that there is a probability of the mates obtaining their principal demands." This information is not available here. Any news from tho owners is rather to the contrary.