WAGES OF SEAMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1922, Page 5

WAGES OF SEAMEN.

EMPLOYERS WANT REDUCTION. BURDEN TOO HEAVY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The hearing of the seamen’s and firemen’s dispute was continued before the Arbitration Court to-day. Kenneth McLeay, general manager of the Richardson Shipping Co., was crossexamined at considerable length by Mr. W. T. Young, who appeared on behalf of the unions. Mr. McLeay said his wages statement, previously submitted to the court, was a true return of actual payments made by his company. He denied that on many occasions seamen had to go without meals.

Mr. Young said an instance was quoted of one man earning £416 in one year. “What was your object,” he asked the witness, “in presenting these figures to the court?”

“To demonstrate that the present wages conditions we have to contend with are too heavy. They are arguments for a reduction in wages.”

Mr. Young: “And to accomplish that you wish to show the court what you consider to be enormous amounts earned by men in the course of a year?” Witness: “The present state of trade will not bear those rates of pay.” The President said the Court would not place much reliance on the return, because the amounts paid out for overtime were not set out separately, while excess rates were also paid for certain classes of work, and these were included in the total. Mr. Young said that it was evident, from the employers’ claims, that they proposed to reduce the men’s earnings by £250,000 per annum.

His Honour: “Witness has said that he regrets his company’s finances make reductions necessary.” The court adjourned until to-morrow.