SHIPS' OFFICERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 76, 20 September 1911, Page 8

SHIPS' OFFICERS

ARBITRATION COURT AWARD. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The award of the Arbitration Court in the Merchant Service Guild dispute has been filed with the Clerk of Awards ('Mr. Eustace Stocker). A number of demands iwere objected to, and the employers submitted counter proposals. The Court decided that the minimum rate of wages to be paid to certificated officers on steamers coming with the seoipe of the award shall be £ls per calendar month for first officers, and £ll2 for second officers. The award applies only to steamers the gross tonnage of which is not less than 100 tons, and not more than 600 tons. The Guild asked lor £lB for a chief officer, ,-£l4 for a second officer, and £l2 for a third officer of ships of 1000 tons register and under, but the employers offered,. on steamers from 241 to 000 tons, £l4 to £ls for first officer on passenger boats, and £l3 to £l4 on cargo boats; for second officer, £ll to .-012 on passenger steamers, and £lO to £ll on cargo boats. Except in special circumstances connected with the safety of a steamer, a.n officer shall not be kept at work continuously for more than twelve hours without an interval of at least four hours. When an officer is in his home port, his work in connection with discharging and loading cargo shall be so arranged and limited as to give him as much time off as is reasonably possible, and he shall not be required to supervise the work of cleaning or painting or any similar work in such port. Officers, after twelve months' continuous service, shall be entitled to.fourteen days' holiday annually on full sea pay, such holiday to bo taken at a time convenient to the employer. Such holidays, may be allowed to accumulate by agree-| went, but not ibeyond three vea'rs.

If an officer is discharged for any cause other than misconduct, he shall receive payment in lieu of holiday in proportion to the time of service from his holiday or the date of his engagement.

Whenever an officer has to change his home port in consequence of a transfer from one service or shipowner to another, be shiill be allowed, on giving reasonable notice, free first-class passage for his family and effects in any vessel of the owner tlmt goes to or towards his destination.

Employers shall not discriminate against members of the union, and shall not, in the engagement or dismissal of ollicers, do anything directly or indirectly for the purpose of injuring the union.

A victualling allowance of 4s per (lavis provided for when meals are not given on board. The sum asked for was ;js.

The award comes into force on October 2, 1011, and continues for two vears.