Daring the final negotiations with the Delegates Dr. Jamie on announced that the Shipowners had refused the demand in conn c.ion with 51 months half pay and ho considered they were fully ju i- fied in doing. Certain ind.viduals, however, had come forward and said that if it would set a sc.tlement, a Fund to me the case woud be raised. No names of the guarantors were mentioned to the De egales. H.M. Con ul-General for Carton in his pronouncement appealed to the Seamen's Union and Representatives of the Canton Chamber of Commerce to subscribe to the movement so generou ly put forward, and a far as the Canton Chamber of Commerce are concerned they promi ed to submit the proposal to their man body.
From the Government Gazet'e of Batur- day last, I learned Sir Robert Ho Tung is respons ble for the estab ishment of th Fund in qua tion, and I sbal get in touch with hm immediate y to E certain his views and the scope of the Fund, also detais of it administration. This in a meas re is a charitable Fund entirely out- s'de 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 Adm nistrator, whoever he may be, in making a fair distribution under the terme of our Agree. ment. It was, however, genera, ly under- stood that the Fund mu t be entirely die asiated with the shipowners and ad- ministered by an independent official.
*aure 3.—This deals with the sy.tom of engaging or wa. It has long been recog. ni ed that the present system of engage- ment is unsa'isfactory to the men, but unles they help themselves it is useless for owner to extend the hand of a S aroc. The system is not that of the own- ers, but of the men, and up aking on behalf of the Seam hip Companies con cerned I would say that we we come, and will & sist in the inauguration of any scheme whereby the wages paid go their entraty to the proper parties.
in
The unfortunate system of "equenzo” i? not only prevalent in the engagement of Reame, but in neary all Chinese dead- ing of imi ar character, and if, as i rauit of the late unfortunate strike, a clean channel of remuneration will in the future ex at between the masters and the mea, it will at any rate have achieved a re ult of undoubted benefit to the com-¡ munity && whole.
The foregoing I trust will convoy the eason is! detain of settlement and a full report of negotiations will follow thould you de ire. It may be of interest to add that at the ast meeting of shipownere it was ucanimously agreed to form a |Hongkong Shipowner: Association aa it is hoped by su doing concerted action and better understanding as between employer and employee will result. Any asistanos you can give is the formation and in- auguration of such movement will be greatly appreciated.-I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
A SUTHERLAND, Chairman, 8h powners Committee.
To
Sir Reginald Edward Stubbr, K Ø.M.G.,
Government Hour,
Hongkon
OF SETTLEMENT SHEWN IN PERCENTAGES OF WAGES.
LINES.
(b) Where Wages ofer
(1) Chineen River Steemers
2) Other Chinese Steamers up to 7,000 tons P.W. H8) Ekong Canton & Macao Steamboat Co., Ltd. (4) Other British Tiver Steamers taking the scale
of the Beamboat Co., as a basis
(6) Consting Steamers
(6) Java Lines ...
(7) Pacific Lines :
---
(0) Where Wages under $30
***
40
(6) European Lines :
(4)
Where Wagos kinder 30
(b)
Where Wages acr
30
(9) Australian Lines:
(4)
Where Wages under 30 Where Wages over
88 88 88
30
30
www
40%
***.
30% 15%
40
88 88 88 888 88
40%
Seamen's
Orixinal demand
XXXX (Increase percentages
88 88
in wages)
Terms
accepted
(Increase percentage
pojuzważ sašuk ut
by owners.)
Reduction in Seamen's original demand compared to terms accepted.
15%
15%
10-2 10%-25
2,
reduction
મ
60%
20%-50 20%-60
25"/=62.5
25 -82.5%
15 "%-50%
19
11
15.
25-82.5*%
"
15%-50%
17
16% 25*1=62.5*%
39
30% 16% 15%-50%
"
(Signed) Lowe, Bingham & Matthews,
Chartered Accountanta.
*
252
T
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