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(B)
THE CHINESE
SEAMEN'S STRIKE.
PRELIMINARY REPORT OF SHIPOWNERS' COMMITTEE,
Following is a copy of the Report made to H.E. the Governor by Mr. R. Buther- land, Chairman of the Committee which conducted the Strike negotiations on be half of the Shipowners:-
con-
Hongkong, 14th March, 1999, YOUR EXCELLENCY,I have now the honour to submit a Preliminary Report on the settlement arrived at with the Dele- gates of the Seamen's Union in connec tion with the recent strike. A resume of the Government negotiations was tained in the Gazcife of the 11th instant And the object of this communication is to set forth the settlement from the Ship owners' point of view in conjunction with the Government communique just referred to.. A full and detailed report of the Shipowners' negotiations will be sub- mitted to you as soon as possible, but I oonsider the subject matter contained in this Preliminary Statement will be of general interest.
Certain points in the Shipowners' nego- Bistions apart from the question of wages were touched upon in the official Gazette and it now remains to submit to you the signed preliminary Agreement referred to in the Government record of proceedings. The document which is attached reads así #ollows:-
It is hereby agreed between the under signed partics that the following are the terms of settlement on the matters in dispute between them:
1-Tho scale of wages paid at Hong- kong and in force on 12th day of Janu- ! ary, 1922, shall be increased as follows and shall apply as from the 1st January,
1029.
Per Cent. -1-Chinese River Steamers ... 30
2-Other Chinese Steamers up to 1,000 tons dead- weight 3.-Hongkong,
30
Canton and Macão Steamboat Co., Ltd. 20 4-Other British Companies' River steamers king the scale of the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam- boat S.B. Co., Ltd. as a basis
20
b-Coasting Steamers
9:0
6-Java Linea
16
Proific Line,
16
8.-European Lines
15
9.-Australian Lines
15
If
2-A date will be fixed for the gen eral return to work. From the time of leaving until much date, men will receive half pay according to the new scale. Men may be re-instated on any of their own Company's vessels or such vessels may be mutually greed upon. positions "are not available for men realy to return to work as above, it is agreed that half pay shall continue for such period as the men are not employed, but not exceeding five and a half (5)) mouths from the date of the general return to work. This half pay will be administered from a Fund under the control of a duly appointed Administra for.
3. The Owners agree to assist in in- augurating a system of engaging orewg which will minimise as far as possible any irregularities which may exist in connection with the pay of seamen.
Signed at Hongkong this fith day of March, one thousand, nine hundred and twenty-one.
(Signed) R. SUTHERLAND,
Chairman, Shipowners"
Committee.
J. W. JAMIBSON,
H.B.M. Consul-General
at Canton.
CHAK HON KE,
(Chinese Chop.)
LO TSUN Max,
(Chinese Chop.)
LUX KING Fo.
Secretary to Commissioner for Foreign Affairs,
Canton,
The Agreement as above was arrived at after some two months of negotiation. To thaes not intimately connected with the subject it will require explanatory re- marks, I would therefore beg leave to comment as follows:-
Clause 1.-This sets forth the scale of wages agreed. For your information I would say that in order to give the exact effect of the strike as affecting shipping-
I requested Messrs. Lowe, Bingham & Matthewa to draw up a statement on the settlement made, and I attach same hereto. The figures submitted wore arriv- ed at by the Chartered Accountants from data obtained directly from the Steam- ship Companies concerned; and in my opinion represent as sccurately as possible the margin of compromise between Own- ers and Seamen's Representatives.
It will be noted that while generous concessions have been made in respect of Chinese-owned steamers, the Seamen's Delegates have met the position very The pro Hafia as regards other lines.
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