SEAMEN'S WAGES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1338, 16 January 1912, Page 4

SEAMEN'S WAGES.

UNION AND OWNERS IIEET. Arrangements have been matlo for dolo* pates "from tbe Federated Seamen's Union to meet New Zealand shipowners to-day in conference to decidc what shall be 1.1/5 wages and hours of the men who work on the decks and in the stokeholds nf ships trading on the New Zealand coasts, It is just possible that the conference will not- meet until to-morrow, for most of the leading shipowners are sbll encased iu conference with the cargo workers If this latter conference finishes its labours carlv to-day, the seamen's conference may meet in the afternoon. The shipping companies to be represented are the Union Steam Sinji Co., the Huddart Parker S.S. Co., and the smaller companies owning coastal vessels. J. he union's delegates ate; Messrs. V. J. Munvo and A. Nixon, (Auckland), \V. Belcher and John Davis (Dunedm), I), Donovan and W. T. Young (Wellington). Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, will preside. The-coming confcrenoo is merely a lesnmption of one that was opened somo two months ago, and postponed m ordor that both sides should have an opportunity of seeing what terms the Commonwealth Arbitration Court would givo to the seamen on the Australian) in the meantime, a provisional agreement, giving advances alli-round of 10s. per niontli in wages, was signed. The Federal' Arbitration Court made its award about a month ago, and this conference resumes to discuss New' Zealand conditions • and rates of pay with the Australian award as a basis. . t

Generally speaking, the award Rives all round increases of 10s. per mouth, making the rales there 10s. more per month, than the rates temporarily agreed upon at the last conference, and .£1 more than the. rates ruling 'prior to it. Another important concession made to the deck-lianas in Australia is (lie limiting of hours of work in port to eight hours per day This question of hours of work still remains to bo settled at this conference.