SEAMEN'S WAGES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2625, 22 November 1915, Page 7

SEAMEN'S WAGES

In Juno last the Seamen's Union represented to the Marine Department that the master of the Waihora had not complied with tlio provision of Section (53 of the Shipping and Seamon's- Act, 1908, with regard to' the payment of .wages monthly. The vessel had just then arrived from the East, and the.cotnplaint of the seamen was that they had not heen paid their wages up to and including April, but had only been granted advances: The Department had pointed out that tlio section only applied to Homo and intercolonial trading vessels, but tlio union contended that tlio vessel was on a time agreement and that tho'section applied to her. Tlio Department referred the point to the Crown Law officers, and the following reply has been received:—"l have tlio honour to inform you that the Department has received an opinion on the matter from the Crown Law officers to whom it was submitted, and they advise tliat tlio agreement of tho crew of the Vessel mentioned was a tinio agreement, and thereforo tho wagos should have been paid monthly. In view of the doubt which existed as to whether tlio agreement was a time agreement, it was not proposed to take proceedings against the master in this instance. Superintendents of Morcantilc_ Marine at the various ports have been instructed to advise masters of vessels that wages in eucji cases must be paid in accordance with tho requirements of .Section 621 o? Afl Act."-