SHIPS' OFFICERS' WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 100, 18 October 1911, Page 5

SHIPS' OFFICERS' WAGES.

-aCONCILIATION COUNCIL TO SIT. PARTIES MAY REFUSE AWARDS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The Conciliation Council (Mr. P. Ilally, Commissioner) will sit in Dunedin tomorrow morning to hear the assessors in the dispute between the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Ltd., and the other large shipowers, and the Merchant Service fiuild. Captain D. ,J. Watson, secretary of the fiuild, will be the sole representative of the Guild at this conference. The Guild is asking for increased wages and improved working conditions, its demands being framed on the lines of the Australian Tnter-State Officers' award. Payment, for overtime worked is an important feature of the demands, and it is anticipated that the question of overtime will be the central point of the dispute in some quarters. The prospeets of a satisfactory agreement, being arrived at before the' Council are regarded as somewhat remote, as it is stated that the Union Steam Ship Company is likely to refuse any demands for overtime, Others again are very sanguine, anil fully expect a settlement of the dispute. In the meantime the Shipowners' Federation and the masters iiuil officers of the *mnll coastal steamers now out of <ominNhion. are greatly interested in the result of the conference, which takes place in Dunedin to-morrow. Captain D, .1. Watson, secretary of the fiuild. arrived from Wellington by the Maori this morning, and left by the first express for Dunedin. Seen at Lvttelton by a reporter, Captain Watson said that there was no change in the position of affairs, and nothing fresh to report in regard to the dispute between the officers uf the small coastal boats and the own(>rs. Practically the whole ot the fleet of small steamers was now laid up. With regard to the sitting of the Conciliation Council at Dunedin tomorrow. Captain Watson was unable to give any information or make my definite statement. He admitted that the piece ile resistance ' would be the question of payment for overtime, but he was very hopeful that an amicable agreement would be arrived at and that the questions of increased wages and improved working conditions would be settled in a manner that would satisfy both sides. Captain Watson said that the outcome of to-morrow\s conference wns being looked forward to with keen mic'.est by both owners and officers of the small coastal boats, as a settlement m icspcct of the large steamers would give the lead for a settlement of the deadlock in the casi' of the small coastal vessel. The minimum rates of pay demanded for first and second officers in steamers of over MOO ton 5 register weie being asked for as the maximum rate in vessels of under KIOO tons.