SHIPPING HOLD-UP

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 80, 29 December 1920, Page 5

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

STEWARDS LEAVE THE MOERAKI.

NIAGARA'S JANUARY SAILING CANCELLED 8r TWeerash-PrCBS AwoeUtton-OosjriihV (Itec. December 28, 10.35 p.m.) Sydney, December 28. When the Moeraki arrived yesterday the stewards left the vessel, their notices having cxpU'od. The owners then decided to cancel the January sailing of the Niagara, and it will probably be the middle of February before any attempt is mado to dispatch her. The secretary of the Stewards' Union states that thero is no truth in the reported isilatqrment that tho Transport Workers' Federation instructed the stewards to return to work.—Press .assu. Melbourne, December '28. If the stewards' striko continues after the holidays it is estimated that ten thousand will be rendered idle in Melbourne.—Press Assn. ;, , The principal point now in dispute between the stewards of the Australian inter-State marine and their employers apparently relates to a reduction of the "spread"—the period over which tt is permissible to spread the day's work. On behalf of the employers i.t is pointed oat, according to the Melbourne J "Age," that in June last an. award was made by the Arbitration Court, based on 'a ten hours' day at sea within a stretch of fifteen hours. Under tl\is award the greater j. number of stewards employed on passenger vessels classed as first grace, stewards received in- actual wages <£13 10s. per month. In addition to that there vw "keep," which was assessed at £3 17s. Gd. On the Loongiina the avorage overtime payment worked out in November at £i 12s. Under present conditions the wages, keep and overtime amounted to ,£2l 19s. Gd. per month, irrespective of "tips" received from passengers. The stewards, being dissatisfied with these conditions, approached the owners, who offered an eight-hour day, with additional..payment at ordinary fittes fori tho first'two''hours, and after that full overtime pay. But they could not see their way to reduce, the "spread" stretch of fifteen hours. The concession offered would have,, represented; it is sai(i\ in the case of each working ten hours a day, an additional £3 7s. 6d. per month, bringing the amount of wages, keep and overtime to X 25 7s. ft' too full claim of' the stewards were granted, wages, keep and' overtime would amount to £28 per month, and in addition therel would be full overtime rates for any. work done before G. 30 a.m. and after 8 p.m.

It is estimated l>y Mr. W. Appleton, chairman of the Australian Steamship Owners' Federation, that an additional expenditure of about .£90,000 a year in running the coastal vessels would be incurred if the claims of the stewards were conceded in full. Portion, of this added cost wonld be passed on to the travelling public. "With similar concessions to cooks and bakers, the additional annual expenditure would, be increased', to about