Seamen’s Wages.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1922, Page 3

Seamen’s Wages.

WANT PREFERENCE .ABOLISHED, (nv TUT.Fr.itacn —run press association! WELLINGTON, March 27. At the Arbitration Court to-day the shipping companies sought to have the Court, reduce the wages of seamen. In asking for a reduction in the wages of seamen Mr Smith who appeared for the Companies said he would draw attention to the fact of the demands for men made during the currency of the war, when every ship was urgently needed, and when an acute shortage of labour existed. Those, ho claimed, were the only reasons why what lie termed such exceedingly high rates of wages were given. In fact, high rates of pay were obtained from the 'employers by force majoure, and under duress, but not because the latter considered the rates reasonable. Mr Smith said (he shipping industry was one in which the interests of the general public, and particularly of primary producers, must be consul red by the Court (o a greater extent, probably, than in

any other industry for which the Court fixed the rates of wages and conditions. The employment position of the primary producers had no doubt been fully laid before the Court in other cases. He referred to the seriousness of the situation which had arisen owing to a worldwide slump in the prices of these primary products. It was so widely known that any further comment at_ that juncture was unnecessary. It would, however, he apparent that anything that could he donfe in the direction of reducing charges on primary products should lie effected in the interests of the community as a whole. That could not he done unless the working costs of ships, which were now about two and a third times higher than before the war were reduced. He spoke of efficiency jp work performed, as compared with the pre-war period. The figures, he „ai4, tbot, wink? wage? in*