INQUIRY SOUGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1933, Page 5

INQUIRY SOUGHT

BRITISH MERCANTILE MARINE

COMPLAINT BY THE MEN

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, December 21

In the House of Lords, Lord Howe presented a petition for the officers of the Mercantile Marine, and moved for a public inquiry into the conditions of service of the navigating and engineering officers of the Mercantile Marine. He said the men’s grievences were not due to the shipping depression, though they were pccentiiated thereby. -

The best shipowners were well aware of the position. The officers were prepared to abide by the result of an impartial inquiry. He instanced the second officer of one of the biggest lines to the east with a maximum salary of, 4 guineas a week, lie not being entitled to a pension.

. The mercantile officers, 110 said, were nothing more . than casual labourers. The apprentice system was absurd. A large proportion of the boys from the training ships left the service owing to the unsatisfactory conditions. Lord Howe stated that the Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish anu French ship-owners paid higher wages to their officers than the British shipowners.

Lord Essendon said that an inquiry was not necessary. The National Maritime Board was the appropriate body to deal with the matter. On the whole, the said, the wages were reasonable. The officers could not expect more under the present conditions. Lord Beatty supported the motion. The motion was rejected without a division.