NOTES FROM ROME

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1921, Page 3

NOTES FROM ROME

A test voyaok. To test, from a Trades' Union viewpoint. the actual working conditions in the stokehold of flic Atlantic liners equipped as oil fuel burners, several officials have made a njund trip to Now York, going by the Aquitani'i, and returning by lhe Olympic. Through their experience it is hoped to avoid future friction with regard to the- man-• tiing of the stokehold. When these two giant liners were reconditioned as oil burners last summer there were disputes as to the number of firemen to be engaged, the companies proposing dial j one fireman should look after not i less than twelve fires, whilst t.lu> men themselves through their union, steed out for nine fires per man. The companies gave way for the time being. Mr C. McVe.v (General Secretary of the Mersey district of the N.U of Sailors and Firemen) says he and his fellow travellers spent seven or eight hours a day in the stokehold witnessing the actual conditions of work. He declin \s to say just yet what effect, their experiences wifi have in deciding upon 1 the number of fires a fireman should look after, as the deputation have ;o report to the executive of the union, but fie said that the work is now more technical and skilled, and requires mme careful attention than was the case win cud firing. The laborious and di-R nature of the work has gone and (!•■' ! stokehold is cool. The large displace--1 ment of work is serious, however, and •to assist in helping to a solution of this problem. Mr MeVey suggests a 48-hour week at sea.