THE GISBORNE DREDGERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3986, 20 July 1915, Page 3

THE GISBORNE DREDGERS.

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE SET UP BY HARBOR BOARD.

PRUNING KNIFE RECOMMENDED. SAVING IN ■WORKING COST OF .MATJI. SERVICES OF SIX MEMBERS OF CREW TO BE DISPENSED WITH.

A .spednl meeting of the Gisborne Harbor Board was hold yesterday to consider the report of the special committee set up to imiuire into the administrative- departments ol the Board. There Were'"'present: Messrs J. Town ley (Chairman), 11. G. Hallamore, T. Quirk, A. Tl. Wallis, THolden, J. Brown, J. W. J. Preston, 1). J. Parker, F. J. Lysnar, H. White, E. V. Palmer, and Geo. Witters.

TJ-IK C OAi.MITTEE’S REPOI IT

The committee’s report was as follows:—

“The committee was appointed under the following resolutions adopted by the Board on 31st May /1915:

(1) That a committee to consist of the Chairman anti Members Brown, l)r. Collins, Holden, Hall'ainorc, Lysnar, Preston-, Smith, Wallis and Witters be set uv> to consider and make itself acquainted with the. various administrative dodepartments of the Board. (2) That all recommendations of tho committee be brought up for the consideration of the Engineer and Secretary on his return.

“Meetings.—The committee held formal meeting-on Bth, lltli, 17th, and 28th June and 12th July. Also oil the 10111 June a visit of inspection was made to the dredger Maui. “Departments of Office, Harbor .Master and Wharfinger.—The committee found that the office staff, the harbor master’s staff, and the wharfinger’s department do not require dealing with at present, but it is suggested that the services of the wharfinger be utilised as far as possible for ofliee work.

"Saving in Working Cost of Maui. —.Member Preston informed the committee that lie was sure that if the Hoard made alterations with the crew of the Maui as suggested by Captain Probert, dispensing with six men, including watchman, a saving oi from Clooo to 1 1200 per 'year, including c In!) to “170 un -the •Auckland trip, could be made on the cost of running the dredger and that at the same time better work could be obtained from her.

“Air Parle, dredgenmstor, and Captain Probert, sailing master, were exanfitied by the committee.

DREDGERS OK OTHER PORTS.

".Member Brown submitted information re other dredgers in the Dominion as follows: —-

JiEC 0A! Ai E X 1) ATI OX 3

•• After investigating fully as to the crews and ■ wages necessary t-o give tiie best results from the two dredgers Alaui and John Townley the committee decided to recommend:

MAUI CREW AND WAGES.

(.) That th‘' Maui’s aw aiul iva»o> ho re-arranged as follows: —Master : L"25 per month with no overtime and holiday leave as per recommendation No. s'; first engineer £23 per month with no overtingi and holiday leave as l>ar ioeomnldiiu'tioj) No._B; seooiiu engineer C2U per month with no o'Ciliiiie and holiday leave as per recommendations No. 1 8; third engineer, position to 1)0 abolished; ladderman, services to bo dispensed with, and duties to be taken up by the Master in conjunction with his other duties; forward wiin-hman, aft winehmon (2), hopper' attomlMtt-. helmsman, firemen (2) Ls 3d per hour with overtime Is Od, Sundays 2s, holidays to be allowed 'and paid for as at present; boatmen (2), night-watchman, bookman at chain : services to be dispensed WITH.

JOHN TOAVNLEY CREW ANJ) WAGES.

(2) That the salaries and wages to be paid to the crew of the dredge John fownley he re-arranged as follows;- —.Master: £‘lS ner month with no overtime and holiday leave as per recommendation No. 8; engineer: £2O per month with no overtime and holiday leave as per recommendation No. 8; craneman, £l4 per month with overtime as at present (Is !)d per hour,); deck hands (2), fireman, Is 3d per hour witli overtime Is Od per hour, Sundays 2s per hour. Holidays to be allowed and paid for as at present. (3) That any special overtime for masters and. engineers shall refer only to other than fair wear and tear, and payment of such, he made only on the recommendation of the'engineer and secretary . (4) That Mr Park, dredgemaster, be paid six miAith’s salary in lieu of notice ( n accordance with solicitor’s advice) so that the suggested new" arrangement could come into force without delay. (5) That applications be called in the usual wav for the positions of first and second engineer on the Maui, and fir.:t- engineer on the John Townloy. (6) That the following officers he notified that their agreements are terminated by the effluxion of time; I). R. Prober"t. sailing master of Maui; 0. P/fe’olvander, sailing master ot John Townloy; H. McGregor, engineer John Townloy. (7) That the Engineer and SecvctaTy he empowered to give the requisite notice to any employees affected by the reorganisation scheme, who are not working under agreements which require cancellation. (8) That the agreements with the employees on the dredges he not renewed oil the old terms, but that the Board retain any services on a monthly engagement at '-salaries' pro-deter-mined 'by the .Hoard-,lthe .holiday, leave as at present, existing to be continued, with the exception that leave lie lionaeemnti lative. (0) .That in place of agreements a. letter of instructions he substituted, stating the salary, hours of work and general duties, the holidays; to be nlslowed. and stating that the latter shall he non-aceumnlative; also that tne engagement shall be terminable by "one month’s notice. V (1.0 That- the'masters of the dredges /be offered the proposed’ positions under altered condition'*. (11) That the- appointments of men on the-dredgers on hourly wages, other than those attached\to the engineroom department no made by each ot the masters of the dredges, and the appointments cj hourly...men to the engineroom/department be made by the ftrst engineers of the vessels. The .appointment of , craneman of the dredge John Townloy. who is not on hourly wages,..t<-/ be left- to, the engineer.of this drqdge—all subject to the )

approval of the Engineer and Secretary.

(12) That tins Engineer arid Secretary be responsible for the dredging. (13) Thai the Maui’s sponsons be made detachable subject to the approval of. Mr Douglas, surveyor of ships. (14) That the alteration of lead as suggested by Captain Probert be given effect to. (15) That the signalmen ,bo paid fyl per month extra each for attending to the safety of the dredges at night, Sundays and holidays. (1G) That in future all outside salaries ami,--wages ne paid over by a member of tho office staff. J. TOWNLEY, Chairman,

The Chairman said that Air Park was entitled to 3! days’ holiday leave. Air Broun moved that the report of the'special* committee be adopted. Tiie committee had gone carefully into the matter, and had been unanimous in their recommendations. Air Preston, seconded tho motion. Ho said that the committee had gone very exhaustively into the whole working of the dredges, and had held live meetings, besides paying a visit of inspection to the dredge Alaui. There had been the utmost harmony on the committee, and the recommendations had been come to unanimously. He was glad to find in going into the working of the dredges that, no blame attached to the past members of the Board, and that the rumor that the Board mid 'allowed power to go out of their hands was not borne out. He appreciated the manner in which Air McDonald, the EngineerSevretary, had met and accepted the recommendations of the committee. He felt sure that the adoption of the recommendations of the committee would make for economy, efficiency, and smoother working in future.

The adoption of tho special committee's recommendations was carried unanimously.

Mr Preston moved that the recommendations of the committee .be brought into effect by August 1.

Mr Holden seconded the motion, remarking that the scheme had been unanimously decided upon, and the sooner they got it going the better. l>r Collins said that the special committee liad'y been set up to endeavor to work out a better scheme than already existed. They nail carried out; their labors, and their work was now ended. The carrying into effect oi too reorganisation scheme as recommended could be left to the Vi oi ks Committee. Air Preston said that could he hut to the Engineer, who it nocessarj could calf the Works Committee together. With three exceptions ol the engineers on the dredgers, the crews wore on hourly wages, and tlm tcmporr.rv appointments could bo U‘lt to the masters of the dredgers, subject to the approval of the EngineerSecretary. Under the report that they had adopted, they had to calf U' l ' applications for three engineers, and in order to avoid delay they couid leave the question of supply in the meantime to the Engineer. Air Witters said he intended to v,,te for the motion, hut he thought that in tiie event of the Engineer not being able to make satisfactory arrangements to keep the dredger■> goj irf in the meantime lie should re,or tiie matter hack to the committee which had made the recommendations. Air Preston: 1 am agreeable to that. , With the consent ol Ins serondei . Air Preston then amended his motion to read that in the event of the Engineer not being able to make arrangements lie should roler the mattoj, to the special committee 1 . Tho motion was earned. Tin- Chairman said that Air J ark was entitled to 31. days' leave. lie had served the Hoard wed, and u was not on account of anv dereliction of dlitv that they were parting with his services, hut simply to carry out u reorganisation scheme. He moved that Mr Park be granted 31 days holiday on full pnv. Mr Preston: I second that. Give the man what he is entitled to. The motion was carried. .Mr Brown pointed out that tact were not certain that Lie musters ot tho clivd ,; -or* would ooeopt the ions undiw the altered circumstances. It was agreed that a special mvetin<r of the Board should be held m three weeks’ time to deal with the applications for the position ot cngi--IKH

Westport- — Tons A Ion Wages From To |:>ill>y Seddon doo 11 £276 £160 Krskino — 9 240 160 1*'ii»M■ 11 Ward i Itiiai- - J 000 10 600 150 Dredge 222 007 (2 shifts 81 ir each) Xi'iv J’lymoutli— id Id 312 148 Am klaud — f)>T> 9 238 1.56 11 a a pal Wellington— 807 9 264 156 Whakairiro Lyttelton— 6(X> 12 270 100 Canterbury 1 ,e\\ha ke Gisborne - 120) 16 270 149 800 8 270 135 Ala ill C rev nnmi h—--100 16 3G0 150 GISt 292 14 regd. 300 150