SHIPS OFFICERS’ STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3343, 9 October 1911, Page 5

SHIPS OFFICERS’ STRIKE.

AN EFFORT AT SETTLEMENT. PROPOSALS DISCUSSED BY JOINT COMMITTEE. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 8. After a lengthy discussion yesterday between parties representing the Shipowners’ Federation and the officers of the coastal vessels concerned in the Alerchant Service Guild dispute, acommittee was set up, with Air P. Hally as president, t-o consider the question of hours of work as regard the officers. The Guild fought strenuously t-o Lave the masters and officers taken together, but on the Federation guaranteeing that in the event of a settlement being made in the officers’ dispute it would undertake to meet the masters within a week to discuss tlie increase of wages, the Guild’s representatives gave way. The Committee met last evening, when Mr Halley submitted certain proposals to the committee, on the question of overtime, which is the main point of the dispute. These proposals will be laid before the Alerchant Service Guild and the shipowners to-mor-row morning. IN THE NORTH. INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS AT AUCKLAND. i special to Times 1 AUCKLAND, Oct. 7. The extreme measures taken by the coastal officers in the South, as a protest against the recent award made in connection with the Alerchant Service Guild award have not spread to the Auckland branch of the Guild, although there has been a movement locally to secure a betterment of the conditions under the industrial agreement which expired on March 31st of this year. Demands separate from the schedule filed in AVellington were lodged on behalf of the local officers, but were not brought before the Conciliation Council, a request being preferred to delay consideration until after the southern application had been disposed of.. However, when so much dissatisfaction was aroused over the award mad© in. AVellington, it was deemed advisable, in the interests of .the local officers, to postpone going on with the demands, and the withdrawal of the application has now been lodged. Simultaneous with the act of withdrawal by the Guild the shipping companies affected yesterday filed an application for the renewal of the agreement that expired this year. The officers, in the demands withdrawn, asked for a rate of pay for first, secand, and third mates slightly in excess of the amount received under the agreement, and wanted an improvement in the working conditions, such as leave at the home port, and payment of overtime, as well as longer holiday leave. The shipping companies suggested that the old agreement has operated very satisfactorily, and that no need has arisen for any alteration. Mr. Ranson, manager of the Northern S.S. Co., told a “Star” reporter this morning that there did not appear to be any local trouble in connection with the former agreement, and he fully expected- that an arrangement would be amicably settled, substantially on the terms of the agreement that has expired, without having to fight the matter out before the Arbitration Court. ■ - , , It is seldom that the employers take the initiative in filing an application for the hearing of a dispute, and therefore the latest development in the shipping troubles is of an interesting nature.