During the final negotiations with the Delegates Dr. Jamie on announced that the chipowners had refused the demand in conn c.ion with b months half pay and he considered they were fully ju ti- fied in doing. Certain ind.viduals, however, had come forward and said that if it would assit a se.tlement, a Fund to me the case would be raised. No names of the guarantors were mentioned to the De ega.es. H.M. Cop ul-Genera!
for
Canton in his preacuncement appealed to the Samen's Union and Representatives of the Canton Chamber of Commerce to subscribe to the movement so generou ly put forward, and na far as the Canton. Chamber of Commerce are concerned they prɔmi ed to submit the proposal to their man body.
From the Government Gazette of Satur day last, I learned Bir Robert Ho Tung in respons ble for the estab ishment of th Fund is question, and I shalt get in touch with him immediate.y to a certain his views and the scope of the Fund, algo details of it administration. This in & mens :re is a charitable Fund entirely out- side the province of the Stram hip Own- ers, but at a meeting held on Wedne day last when the Agreement was ratified I appealed to Owners to do their utmot to generaly assit the Administrator, whoever he may be, in making a fair distribution under the terms of our Agree- ment. It was, however, generally under stood that the Fund mu t be entirely die agorated with the Shipowners and ad- ministered by an independent official.
Cause 3.—The deals with the system of orgaging crows. It has long been recog ni ed that the present system of engage- ment is unsatisfactory to the men, but unlea they help themselves it is useles for owners to extend the hand of as ist- arce. The system is not that of the own- ers but of the men, and speaking on behalf of the 8'eam hip Companies con- cerned I would say that we we come, and wile sist in the inauguration of any scene whereby the wages paid go in their entirety to the proper parties.
The un'ortuna'e system of "squeeze" iz no only provalent in the engagement of Neame" but in near y.all Chinese deal- ing of a imi ar character, and if, a6 2 ret of the lae uzfortunate strike. 1 clean channe: of remuneration will in the future ex st between the masters and the men, it will at any rate have achieved a re ult of undoubted benefit to the com- munity as a whole.
The foregoing I trust will convey the earen ia details of settlement and a full report of negotiation; will follow should -you desire. It may be of interest to add that at the 'ast meeting of shipowners it was unanimously agreed to form a Hongkong Shipowners Association as it is hoped by so doing concerted action and better understanding aa between employer and employee will result. Any a sistance you can give in the formation and in- auguration of such movement will be greatly appreciated.-I have the honour to be, air, your obedient servant,
R SUTHERLAND, Chairman, Sh powners Committer Bir Reginald Edward Stubh, K.O.M.G.,
Government House,
Hongkong
To
EFFECT OF SETTLEMENT SHEWN IN PERCENTAGES OF WAGES.
LINES
2000 395
Chinese River Steamers
Other Chinese Steamers up to 1,000 tos D.W. F'kong Canton & Macao Steamboat Co., Ltd. Other British River Steamers taking the scale of the Steamboat Co., as a basis Couting Steamers
Java Lines ...
Pacific Lines :
(-) Where Wages under 130
(b) Where Wages over 30
--
999 989
Seamen's
Original demand
in wages)
Terms accepted
in wages granted
by owners.)
88% (Increase percentage
Reduction in Seamen's original demand compared to terms accepted.
10
reduction
=25
2%-50%
20%-60
20 *=50
30
15
16% 16%
25 *=63.5 *),
10
25 % -62.5 %
++
15 7-50%
П
(8) European Lines:
(a)
Where Wagos under 30
40" 15%
25 "%=62.5 %
(b)
(9) Australian
Where Wages over 50 Lines ;
---
30
15%
15 %-60%
Where Wages under 30
+++
40%
15
Where Wages oper
30
20 % 15 %.
257-62.5%
15%-50%
17
(Signed) Lows, BINGHAM & MATTHEWS,
Chartered Accountants.
418
Page 420Page 421