EMERGENCY TRIPS OF HARBOUR BOARD TUG

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 233, 29 June 1944, Page 3

EMERGENCY TRIPS OF HARBOUR BOARD TUG

The general malinger of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. F. W. Reed, reported last night on the decision of the board regarding the dispatch of the tug Toia on future emergency trips, and the authority given the ’board’s officers to negotiate for an agreement to pay the crew- of the tug. in addition to ordinary rates, 30/- a day to cover overtime, with a provision that any claim for additional payment be dealt with after the return of the tug. The board’s offer for a deck hand worked out at £2O/19/5 for a seven-day week; the crew’s counter-proposal on the same basis was £4l/6/-. As no agreement could be reached by the parties, the board's offer and the crew’s counter-pro-posals were referred to the local disputes committee, hut again no agreement was arrived at.

“I now suggest that as no agreement can be made or an assurance given by the crew of the tug to sail in eases necessitating the immediate departure of the vessel in an emergency, the naval authorities be advised accordingly,” the general manager added. “In the case of emergency involving the immediate departure of the tug. I recommend that the regular crew we instructed to sail under the conditions offered by the hoard. I would further recommend that the matter be referred to the Government.”