THE SHIPPING TROUBLE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 91, 7 October 1911, Page 5

THE SHIPPING TROUBLE

THE SHIPOWNERS' REPLY. By Telegraph—Prea* Association. Wellington, .Friday. The shipowners will meet this evening to further consider the position -with regard to one line which would seem to be undecided to follow the proposal to lay up the ships affected, a policy which the owners appear to be inclined to take. This would mean paying off of the crews. A large number of officers decline to proceed to sea with mates who are .not members of the Merchant Service Guild.

A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD. Wellington, Last Night. Representatives of the New Zealand shipowners have asked to meet the Federal Council of the Australasian Federated Seamen's Union in conference, not later than the last week in this month, to consider the new scale of demands served on the steamship owners. The conference will probably take place in Wellington.

I The claims made involve an increase in wages 'of £1 per month all round, with the exception of men working sixhour watches, in whose cases the union "is asking fo,r an increase of £3 per month, based on the number of hours that a man is called upon to work in excess of hours worked by those on fourhour watches. In respect to overtim'e, the present .rate varies from Is per hour for ships' work to Is 3d for handling cargo, and in the fresh demands ills (id per hour is asked for without conditions, except in the case of surfing (boat and cargo), for which 2s per hour all the year round is claimed. At present this class of work is paid for at the rate of Is !)d per hour during the four winter months and Is Gd during the summci period.

PROSPECTS OF A SETTLEMENT. Wellington. Last Night. At till' invitation of Mr. Hiilluy, Concilin tion Commissioner, shipowners and officers will meet to discuss their differences, which are now resulting in the laying up of many small steamers. Tt is believed there is a good prospect of an ii«i - eeii)'".it. being reached that will lead to ;' sol tiement of the trouble, and that .-learners will probably proceed to sea auain r,-i Monday.