Seamen's Union.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1922, Page 1

Seamen's Union.

CASE EOR SHIPOWNERS. WKLLINTGOX, Sept 0. in the Arbitration Court to-day, Mr T. O. Bishop addressed the Court on behalf of the Shipowners’ Federation. He said that the ease was a simple one. “There is,” he said, “a worldwide slump in trade, which has affected shipping. The causes of the -lump were outside our control, hut we must adjust our affairs to the alien'd conditions." Certain gains in wages and condition,, "ere obtained |,v the seamen by negotiations ill K)U(!, and it was believed that conditions then existing would continue for I Ik* period ot the agreement. The problem for the Court was to determine what adjustments were neces-

sar'v to enable the shipping industry of this country to lie carried on at a cost which the country could _ afl'e.r 1 to pav, at the same time having regard to the necessity of paving a fait wage to those employed, and providing a fair return for the capital invested. The employers did not attack the principle of the eight hour day. hut overtime aboard ship was different from overtime ashore. A great deal of overtime money had to be paid on ships without extra hours being worked, therelore, the rale should not he a high one. He submitted that in the coastal shipping, sailing after 5 p.m. should ho permitted.

Mr Smith, on liehalf of the Union Company, replied to Mr ioung, whom he complimented upon the maimer in which lie had conducted his case, which was an object lesson to advo. rates generally. The new proposals of the union, making drastic alterations in existing conditions, such as the daily rate of pay, inclusion of boys in crews, and the demand tor a manning scale in excess of the Shipping amf Seamen Act, could not he made as counter-proposals, in view of the, ruling of Mr Justice Sim some \cais ago. ]|is Honour said lie had been under the impression all along that there had been a cross citation in the dispute. Mr Smith pointed out that such was not the case, the union having merely brought tip counter-proposals. He referred in detail to conditions of work and pay, and concluded by saying that the evidence given on behalf of the employers showed that a substantial reduction in wages was absolutely necessary if producers were to be kept on their feet. The present condition-of New Zealand shipping was a very sick one, and a surgical operation was necessary to remove the cancerous growths which had developed practically unchecked during the war. Unions in the I'nited Kingdom had voluntarily agreed to reductions which were somewhat greater than those asked by the employers here. Mr Young bad argued that overtime earned should not be taken into consideration in fixing the wages of men, but this did not apply m the case of seamen, who, liv working overtime, were not deprived of any home life, as they wore unable to leave their ship. On the Court’s deoiedon in regard to wages would dopend whether industries generally wore to hr started on the road io prosperity, or whether the present slump was to he continued. He submitted that the position in Australia was (ptito irrelevant, as the conditions in the Commonwealth were different from those in New Zealand. His Honour said the Court would probably be unable to considei the making of the award until the waterside workers’ ease had been concluded, Imt he hoped to have an award framed before the end of the month, lie congratulated the parties upon the able manner in which they had conducted the ease.