HOURS TOO LONG.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13529, 10 November 1911, Page 2

HOURS TOO LONG.

MR. JUSTICE HICCINS AND THE SEAMEN. The Federal Claim. , MELBOURNE, November 5. ill* hearing of the ease in which the federated Seamen’s Union is proceeding against the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association, was resumed before Mr Justice Higgins to-day. Arthur Cooper, secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Union, said that owing to the break in sleep and the long hours of working in port with cargo, etc., on leaving port he had seen the officer in charge of the watch and all others aalcepr Mr Sullivan: How could you see them if you were asleep ? (Laughter.) Witness: I saw tuem when I woke up, and heard the officer on watch call “Port!” We were about 7deg off the course. His Honor said ho did not want to saddle the owners wit hj more - men- than they reasonably required to work, but, on the other hand, he felt strongly that the men had too long hours, and he wanted to meet the parties as fairly as he could. He could not see why the steamers should keep four-hour watches so rigidly on this coast. The Union’s men, he took it, had no objection to do the full eight hours a day, and would prefer if they had their choice to do the work an the daytime. Witness stated that that was so. His Honor: What' would be the objection to the alteration suggested that the crew should work eight hours in the. day, except that men would need to be , told off to take on the duty of steering and lookout. Witness: That would mean extra men on an eight hours’ day. A great number of the larger cargo ships carried but six or seven A.B.’s when nine were required —that, however, was not the opinion of the owners. The hardest part of all the duties was coming ip and out of, port; there was more gear to handle and there was the heavy work of mooring the ships. Continuing; he said that the contention of the claimants was that the ship’s work could be done continuously during the 24 hours. After further evidence had been given the Court adjourned until the next day.