ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2446, 27 April 1915, Page 9

ARBITRATION COURT

THE MERCHANT SERVICE

APPLICATION FOR INCREASES

The Arbitration Court commenoed a sitting in Wellington yesterday under fclio presidency of Mr. Justice Stringer and Messrs. E- F. Dutliia. for the employers, and J. A. M'Culloch for the employees. _ The hearing of the disputes of the Wellington Merchant Service Guild, re masters and officers (coastal boats) was taken first, the two disputes being heard together. Mt. W. Pryor appeared for the employers, and Captain D. J. Watsoa for the Merchant Service Guild.

Captain Watson, in outlining his case, said that they were asking for two distinct rates for masters. On vessels where one mate was carried they asked for £28. per month for the master, and where two mates were carried, £25 per month. The reason for that was that where only one mate was carried the master had to _ keep a regular watch. In Australasia, he pointed out, that the masters received overtime, but this they did not ask for here, except in the case where the master was asked to keep a sea watch on a vessel where two mates were employed. They were asking for that, for otherwise there was a possibility of the master being penalised. One company, sinoe the award made with the officers, had circularised the masters calling on them to keep a sea watch, thereby preventing the officers' hours accumulating. Sometimes,' oontinued Captain Watson, the seamen's wages and overtime came to more than that of the officers. In. 1911. one company inoreased officers payments by a total sum of £3, and naa since increased freights by nearly oO per cent. - They also asked for masters a victualling allowance of 10s. per day, the same ' amount as was allowed by the Union Steam Ship Company, .and which was included in the Australasian award. Regarding sick pay the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen's Act-made provision for every man on board except the master, and they were strongly of opinion that where the master came into'port sick, some such provision as one month on full pay, with victualling allowance, and the seoond month full pay without the allowance might be made. That was a regulation followed by the Union Steam Ship Company for many years; As to the officers' dispute Captain Watson .said that' it was hefore the Court in 1911, and an award was ma.de that provided that offioers could hekept at work for twenty hours in the twenty-four, without any extra pay. After that award was-made the officers loft their, ships, : and a subsequent arrangement was made whereby the respondents said ; that they Would not work-'the officers more- than twelve hours a day. He intended to call evidence te-'show-'how' that was carried out. They were actually asking for less than was being paid now, in some cases, but asking for payment in excess, of eight hours a day. They also asked for preference, for the better internal government of their association. The officers had stuck by the companies during the industrial trouble, and it was not conducive to industrial peace if the seamen could get it outside the Court, and the officers not get it in the Court. ' Masters Clve Evidence, Albert James Dahl, captain of the Stormbird, said that-he.'received £22 10s. per month. He did ; not receive an advance in 1911. He did not consider this a fair wage, for he had to take watch and watch about, and was liable to be called on at any time. Thos, Clarkson Sawyers, at one time second and. then' first mate on the Hi. mitangi, said that he had worked from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., with half an hour off for meals, and. overtime, only on Sunday, with a limit of eight hours at 2a. 6d. per hour. His pay came to £2 more than received by the seamen. Robert John Hay, master of the Niknu, said that his wages were £24 per month. ,He traded between Nelson, Motueka, and Wellington, and did tliree trips a week. They were at sea every night except Sunday. Two officers were carried. . He had often been up ' all night going through the Straits. ; To Mr. Pryor: He did not take a watch now, and the officers had to work two or three, hours-extra.

Mr. Justice Stringer: He says tliey did not get overtime. Mr. Pryor: No; but . it's going to make a difference if overtime is. granted. 1 .

Arthur E. Burt, master of the Huia, said ' that he thought £28 to £30 a month would be a fair rate of wages. The mates' wages wero £15 a month, Twelve ; months , last January, it' happened that the lantern man drew 3s. 6d. in wages more than he did. Tie vessel ran between Wellington, Wanganui, and Pelorus Sound, and when in the Sounds hie was often on duty 24 hours on end.

R. Hart, of the Huia, stated that ho worked 12 hours a day on an average. The seamen's wages averaged £9. Howard R. J. Fowler, master of the Squall, said that his wages were £23 10s. Two mates got £16 and £13. The first mate got £4, and the second £2 more tlian the highest paid A.B. .when there was overtime.

To Mr'. Pryor: With the Union Company he had earned £4 in one month overtime. ■ / Evidence from a number of masters, of other coastal boats was put inland tbe case for the appellants closed. Shipping Companies' Position. Mr. Pryor put in a comparative statement of the. officers' award, with supplementary agreements and the increases showed by the demands made, also the approximate extra oost involved for the different companies. He argued that it was apparent that an award suiting the special conditions of tho trade of Messrs. Richardson, and Co. could not reasonably be extended to other services, and vice versa. He pointed out that in the services affected it must be conceded that there were compensating circumstances, inasmuch as the men wore not kept- at sea, and had a good deal of home life with holidays. As to the Sounds trade it was admitted the men had a strenuous time for' three days a fortniqflit, but the owners found it impossible to increase their freights. And if extra wages had to be paid the trade would be made unprofitable. With regard to sick pay for masters the Arbitration Court was not the proper tribunal to appeal to. It was a sound principle that men having charge of the overtime should not participate in extra payments. Preference to unionists was objected to, for it was _ held that considering the resjwnsibilities of masters and officers with regard to properly and life, the service of the best men should be obtainable, irrespective of unionism. The employers were agreeable f 0 ie m j n j. mum wage of masters being fixed at £22-10s., with 14 days' holidavs. The IDs, for meals was considered exorbitant. and fis. was' suggested. Wm. E. Fuller,'manager of the shipping department of Levin and Co,, said that his company owned theAwahou, Queen of the South, and tho Wakatu. They were also agents for the Opawa, and Wairau. On the first-named £23 10s. per month was paid the master, and on the latter £20. The increases asked for would mean an expense of£2B per annum on the Awahou, and £6fi 2s. Sri. on tho Queen of tho South and AVakatu. Tho officers of the first two steamers got £17, and of tbe other cfiis. ij. its were smtsd it

would mean an increase of £602 16s. Bd. for the three ships. They could not possibly increase their rates with tie Uueon of the South, running regularly to Foxton, for they were competing riii railways, and there was very little margin. Wherever they could,' they gave the officers their Sundays in fine homo port. Cross-examined by Captain Watson aa to whethor he did not think the mates were ontit/led to some overtime tor the extra hours they worked, witness said that he thought they got onougih ior tho»work they did. Wm. Henry - George Bennett, manager of the Wellington Waterside Employment Association, gave evidence that up to July 31 last he *was manager for various shipping companies, namely, the South Taranaki Shipping 00., Patea Shipping Co., and the Coastal Shipping Co. Masters had been paid £23 10s. to £22 10s. He detailed the hours of work expected of the masters. The South Taranaki chipping Company had paid no dividends during the last three years, and during the last twelve months there had been a loss. _ The Patea Shipping Company had paid no dividends for eleven years. On the Mana an A.B. received £12 lis. lid. a month, and a mate £16; on the Kapunui seamen £13 el'- anc ' ma tes £16; in the Patea Shipping Co. seamen received £12 Bs. od. and mates £16. Anchor Company. *Wm. Rodgers, general manager of the Anchor Shipping Co., gave evidence that there were seven first mates and live second mates in their employ. I 1 our of the first mates received £17, two £16, and one £15. Three of th<s second mates received '£14 and two £13. The hours worked by the mates for an average month were: Waimea, 9 hours per day; Kennedy, 9i hours per day; Kaitoa, 8i hours per day. Were all the claims allowed, the extra cost to his company would be £803 10s. The. masters and mates were paid full, time during the strike, and received a small bonus at the end of it. Cross-examined, witness said that it had been the custom to pay the.inasterß a bonus if the ship paid a certain percentage. It worked out at about £5 per month. Since the wages had been inoreased a different system of paying bonus was brought in. They had. masters with theru who had been in their employ over thirty years. During the strike the masters and mates manned the vessel. There would be no harm done if preference was granted, but he did not believe in it.

Arno'tt John Furnie, manager of the shipping department of Messrs. Johnston and Co., gave evidence that they controlled the Stormbird, the Huia, the Putiki, and the Blenheim. They also controlled the Moa and the Manaroa when the award came into force, but they had gone out of the trade, and not been recommissioned. Increases in salaries and victualling allowance would come to £320. Most of the vessels were running at a loss. AS far as Blenheim was concerned, they could not raise the freights, because they were' in competition with the " Union Company. ' The Sounds trade was a special trade they were trying to work up.

John M. Deck, manager of the shipping department of Messrs. Turnbull and Co., controlling the Aorere, said that the master was paid £20 and the mate £13 10s. There had been no dividend since 1903. Last year she lost money, and before that she was was just paying running expenses. The ship only averaged one and a half trips a week for the year, running to Patea.

Captain Charles M'Arthur, Maoriland Steamship Co., said that the company's vessel had shown a loss for the last three years. . . At the conclusion of the evidence, Mr. Pryor said that it mußt be conceded tbat the "Mosquito Fleet" were not in a position to stand any increases, Captain Watson submitted that the evidence showed the masters and officers were not getting a fair deal, Men without any qualifying experience .were shown to be able to make more titan the. officers.

Mr. Justice Stringer (to Mr. Pryor): Why . should not the mates who work overtime with the sailors be paid for that overtime?

Mr. Pryor: The agreement entered into was for a rate to cover that overtime. - Decision was reserved, and the Court rose at 5.40 p.m. FIXTURES. The following fixtures were made * Wellington Ships' Tally Clerks, today. Wellington' Shipwrights', to follow immedately after Ships' Tally Clerks. Cooks and Stewards', Thursday; Wellington Bricklayers'; Friday afternoon. Engineers', Monday, May 3. Wellington Private .Hotel Employees', Wednesday, May 5. ' Wellington Building Trades' Labourers', Thursday, May 6. Wellington Stonemasons', follow Building Trades' Labourers', May 6. Wellington Electrical Workers', Friday, May-7. ' Manawatu Cycle and Motor Mechanics', Friday, May 7. Bacon Curers and Taxi-drivers', to be mentioned.later.

Wellington Slaughtermen's Dispute, struck out on application of Mr. M. J. Reardon.

Wellington Soft Goods' Employees' Dispute, adjourned to next sitting on the application of Mr. M. J. Reardon.