SEAMEN’S PAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1927, Page 1

SEAMEN’S PAY.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) SYDNEY, Sept, 1. •lu a letter replying to demands made from a new log. served by the Federated Seamen’s Union upon the shipowners, on August 17th. Mr Dillon (Secretary of the Steamship Owners’ Association) estimates tlie increased cost to the shipowners at approximately £1,000,000 per annum. Ho says the demands made are for tlie most part of such an extravagant nature that there is no possibility of tlieir being agreed to. He points out that an increase of over £4 in all fixed wages is demanded, although the Australian wages already are nearly four times those paid In Germany, nearly double those of the British and Norwegian seamen, and nearly half as much again as those of tlie American seamen ; while a reduction in hours is demanded, and increased overtime, which would bring the Australian seamen’s wages up to nearly four times those paid to the British seamen and to nearly twice those paid in New Zealand.

Mr Dillon instanced that a fireman merely performing his two watches of four hours would receive £402 a year, and that, including his keep, his overtime pay, and other concessions, his total would come to £546 per year, compared with the present annual wage of £274. Regarding the demand for the 44 hour week, Mr Dillon, says tills would impose a crushing burden on the shipping industry in tlie shape of overtime pay, involving an additional expenditure of £200,000 a year. He adds: Tlie Australian seamen are already enjoying wages and conditions far in excess of those in any other parts of the world, and tho industry is not in a position to face any further extravagant demands: nor should the public he asked to meet them liy any largely-increased fares and freights, which are the only alternatives.” He calls attention to the already existing large number of maritime agreements, and says it would ho useless to confer 1 on the basis of the log submitted; but that, it the Union desires a conference on the basis of the existing agreements, his Association are willing to confer regarding several alterations which the Association desires should ho made.

SEAMEN \S WARNING. SYDNEY. Sept. 1. In his letter submitting the new log for consideration and requesting a conference, tho Seamen’s Union Secretary contended that tho existing agreement has expired, and he intimated that in the event of the representatives of the Shipping Companies not attending the conference, the Senmen’s Union would take such steps as might he necessary to enforce the demands outlined in the new' log. Mr Dillon, replying to this, claims the agreement has not expired, the stipulated three months’ notice of expiry not having been given. He says that ho regrets the announcement that, failing a conference, the seamen intend to enforce their demands, as it would not be conducive to a satisfactory commencement ol any negotiations.