SEAMEN’S WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1922, Page 5

SEAMEN’S WAGES.

Dispute before court. DIFFICULTIES OF COMPANIES. B* Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, August 22. The seamen’s dispute was further heard in the Arbitration Court to-day. Mr. McLeay was examined by Mr. Bishop, for the Ship-owners’ Federation, and a lively argument resulted regarding the statement by Mr. Young that £192 paid to a seaman above the year’s pay at award rates was equivalent to 1542 hours overtime. Mr. McLeay explained that the amount was accounted for by several forms of special payment, including work on Sundays and holidays and surfing work. Mr. Young remarked that shipments of wool had increased recently. Mr. Justice Frazer said the number of sheep had decreased. Mr. Young replied that when the maritime dispute had finished there would probably be a marvellous revival in trade. The Judge: We hope so; we need it. Replying to a remark by Mr. Young Mr. Justice Frazer said the Court was not concerned with the financial position of the shipping companies, but what was a fair rate to pay for work and overtime and what were fair conditions. Wellington, Last Night. Robert Fletcher, master of Richardson and Co.’s Ruru, questioned on clauses in the dispute, said the seamen and firemen had little rest in working small vessels on the coastal runs. He expressed the opinion that the work performed in the hold was worse than surfing. Edwin Jas. Phillips, accountant to the same company, said he had prepared statements of seamen’s earnings, and the figures compiled were accurate in every respect. The figures had been made up from the men’s overtime sheets, and the commentaries were taken from the master’s log. Any discrepancies in the return were probably due to the fact that details were collected from different sources. He denied that favorable days had been selected with the object of making the return favorable to the company’s clause. He admitted some information contained in the report had been compiled by other officials. Mr. Young (for the union): Why did you not show in separate columns the actual wages, overtime payments, and number of hours in overtime?

Witness: Because I was asked to mj.ke a return of total earnings. Mr. Young: You had no instruction as to details?—None whatever.

Michael Fitzgibbons, stevedore for the same company at Napier, called by Mr. Bishop, said meetings would interfere with the sailings to Wairoa and other ports, which had to be worked according to tides. John Benson, engineer of the Ruru, said the firemen worked four hours overtime each day. He did not see any harm in the deck hand on watch discharging ashes. William Rodgers, general manager of the Anchor Co., said there was an additional falling-off in the trading receipts of late, the position being so acute that the company had to consider whether it was advisable to keep all its steamers running. Since the Court met he had been called to a meeting of directors to consider whether one vessel, the Regulus, should be withdrawn, and it was decided to wait for a report in four weeks. Coal cargoes between Greymouth and New Plymouth had dwindled very considerably, and some vessels were running with half cargoes. The coal rate on the West Coast was very much upset, due to declining orders. Freights had been reduced in order to encourage business.