STRIKE OVER.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1919, Page 5

STRIKE OVER.

AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN CO BACK TO WORK, GOVERNMENT'S TERMS ACCEPTED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Melbourne, August 14. Senator Milieu announced that the Sydney seamen's stipulations that Walsh should attend the conference and that there must be no reference to the Arbitration Court has deferred the settlement, but lie was still hopeful that it would be concluded. If, however, the Sydney brancli stipulated conditions in variance to the agreement recommended by the conference he would not be warranted in indulging in hope of a settlement much longer.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received August 14, 8,30 p.m. Sydney, August 14. A mass meeting of seamen agreed to accept the Government's terms whereby the ships will be manned on Monday. Walsh attends the econference- There will be lio arbitration. Received August 14, 8.30 p.m. Melbourne, August 13. \ A meeting of the Federated Seamen unanimously decided to accept the executive council's recommendations to man the ships when ready. Received August 14, 10.20 p.m. Sydney, August 14. A mass meeting of seamen rescinded yesterday's resolution, and passed another similar to Melbourne's, affirming their intention to man the ships on Monday. Meanwhile a conference takes place in Melbourne, wherein the .States will be represented. Received August 15, 1.25 a.m Sydney, August 14. The mass meeting of seamen concluded amid uproar, a. section objecting to the motion (which was eventually carried) to the effect that the men will man the ships on Monday, providing the decisions at the round-table conference arc final. Further that inter-State Labor representatives are allowed to attend the conference. THE 'CLAIMS OF THE MEN. Epitomised, the seamen's claims comprised:— An increase of 35s per lunar month. An eight-hour day at sea arid a sixhour day in port. No Sunday work in port; only strictly navigation work on Sunday at sea. Extra day's pay for work on holidays. An extra payment of Ifis each seaman for work on Sunday and holiday excursions. Extra pay of Is a day for deck hands and is fid <q. day for stokehold and engineroom hands in tropics. No night watch in port. One, clear day off in homo port every month. ' Provision of bedding, blankets, sheeting, and eating utensils (other than tinware) by the ship owners. Application of Commonwealth Seamen's Compensation Act to all vessels on Australian articles; insurance guarantee of £SOO tQ be paid to next-of-kin of seamen dying in service. Until seaman is returned home and cured and made fit. for work, wages during sickness, to accrue. Fumigation and painting of crews' quarters every twelve months. Application of Navigation Act of 1012 (accommodation of crew) to ail vessels owned or controlled by associated steamship owners within six months of date of proposed agreement. THE SHIPOWNERS' REPLY.

The following statement as to the wages and conditions under which seamen are working at present was issued by the Shipowners' Association:— "Wages now paid under the award of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration are £l2 5s per month for seamen and trimmers; £l4 5s per month for firemen and greasers;-and £ls 5s per month for donkey men. "Work for seamen is not casual and intermittent, but constant; seanien generally have no broken time. If they so desire, they are employed year in and year out. Hours are fixed by the court at eight per day; all works done in excess is paid for at overtime rates, namely, 2s per hour. "The amount actually paid for wages and overtime varies l from £IBO to, in some cases, £2SO per annum. In addition to actual wages paid, seamen we provided with keep, which represents £39 9s per annum. "Seamen are also entitled", under the award of the court, to. 14 days' leave of absence on full pay each year, in addition to which they have to be allowed a day off or given an extra day's payment if certain holidays are spent wholly at sea. "Although the Navigation Act has not been proclaimed, Australian shipowners have since 191,3 been observing its provisions in relation to the number of men to be carried in the stokeholds of each vessel on the coast.'' Commenting on the present demands of tils seamen, the owners say an additional 33s per month is asked for principally on the ground that seamen on British and American steamers are now in receipt of more money than the Australian seamen. On British and American vessels seamen employed on deck have to work 12 hours per day at sea, whereas the Australian seamen work only eight. This gives the Australian seaman a much higher rato for time actually worked. A six hours' day in port is asked for. Seamen's hours in port are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., less two meal hours, representing eight working hours, which is tho established custom for all industries throughout Australia. As to insurance against sickness and accident, seamen on inter-State vessels are already covered by the Seamen's Compensation Act, 1011, for accidents rerutting in injury or death, and the provisions of the same Act have been voluntarily accepted By Australian shipowners as applying to vessels trading away from Australia, while in the case of intrastate trading vessels the respective State Acts apply. In the case of influenza, the seamen are taking no riskß which are not shared by all members of the community; but it should be pointed out that the shipping companies pay the wages of men until they are returned to their homo port-