MORE FREE LABOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 722, 23 July 1929, Page 1

MORE FREE LABOUR

TRAWLER HUMPHREY PUTS T 0 SEA STRIKE CONTINUES The dispute between Sanford, Limited. and the crews of their trawlers still continuing. the owners today dispatched another vessel, the Humphrey. to sea manned with non-union labour. The vessel was lying out in the stream and a crew was taken out to her. the trawler sailing at about halfpast twelve. Another of the company‘s trawlers. the Thomas Currell. which usually works from Onehunga, is expected in Auckland tomorrow. By that time the crews of all the company's vessels will be ashore and it is expected that a full meeting of the men will then be held to consider the concession put forward by the company. The men have asked for 36 hours‘ shore leave every week, instead of 24 hours and 36 every fourth week as at present. While the employers have offered 24 hours and 36 hours on alternate Weeks. Mr. A. “I. Brockie, general manager of Sanford. Limited, is still hopeful that the men will agree to the terms offered by the company. He is also confident that there will be no shortage in the .supplies of fish. The Humphrey's catch will be augmented by supplies from the Thomas Currell, and the Serfib, which went to sea last week manned by free labour. is expected to return on Thursday with a further catch. “

THE HOURS DISPUTE

MEN EXPLAIN THEIR SIDE OF T CASE l Stating that with the exception of THE SUN’S report on the first day of the strike, practically no mention had been made of the men's side in the dispute, two delo~ gates from the men involved in the trawling dispute called at THE SUN Office today to present their side of the case. “All we asked for.” said the delegates, “is a 36—hour break every week to counteract to some extent the con—ditions under which men are forced to live on a trawler. This break is absolutely necessary,” they added, “in order to secure sleep and rest." “In the agreement, it is called a 65‘hour week, but actually an average of about 87 hours are entailed for deck hands." They explained that the vessels generally towed for about four hours and then hauled. Fifteen min—utes before hauling is commenced the men are warned in-or-der to be dressed‘ and ready if they are sleeping. The deck hands participate in the hauling, help to stow the fish away, assist in “shooting" out the gear, and wash down the decks, these operations taking about an hour. It was pointed out, however, that from. the time the men are called until they get below again the time averages about an hour and a~halt. This is done throughout the day, making a total of ten hours. Between times each man takes a three-hour turn at the wheel, bringing‘ the total hours up to 13 and every other day two turns are done, making on those days 16 hours’ work. In addition the men must spend one hour daily cleaning up their quarters. The men also claimed that when arriving back in port at 6 or 7 o’clock in the morning they had already worked at least four hours of that day, and were fit only for a good sleep. They were certainly free until seven the next morning, but in that time they had to come down to the office to get paid. They also had to arise at about five the next morning so as to be in town in time to put to sea at 7 o’clock. “All we ask is that the vessel should get in to port at seven the previous night," stated one of the men, “in order that we can get a night's sleep before havin" our day off." He said that they Q :1 suggested to the owners that they give the 36-hour break a month‘s trial, and if it was proved that it resulted in a loss to the company the men would give up the request. This. howcve', was refused. The men worked in their wet clothes and were often so tired that they went to sleep without bothering to Change them. “I have seen a man fall asleep three times over his food,” added one of the men. In a heavy sea it is practically impossible to get any sleenat all, he said, particularly when making back to port.”