A—7a

No. 9. —Wages, Hours, and Manning Minimum monthly wages to be £l6 or $64 for able seamen ; other ranks in comparison. Without payment of overtime, members of a ship's crew can be called upon to work 24 hours within a period of two days at sea. In port the hours are not to exceed 8 hours daily, and 2 hours the maximum for sanitary duties, &c., on the weekly day of rest in port, or 112 hours in a period of two consecutive weeks —overtime payment shall not be less than one and a quarter times the basic wages per hour. Comment. —These matters were the most contentious questions at the Conference. The rate of wages, £l6 sterling, agrees with New Zealand's present scale, but is considerably higher than many countries are now paying. The hours also closely follow our custom, but there are several minor matters which do not conform with the present system worked in our vessels.

Approrimate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (620 copies;, £9O.

By Authority: E. A'. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 946.

Price la. 3d.}

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