1926-06-11 — Page 2

Page

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 11TH, 1926

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TEL C. 135.

SOLE AGENTS :

GANDE, PRICE & CO, LTD.

HONGKONG.

LOOK THROUGH YOUR WARDROBE.

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CO.

THE STEAM LAUNDRY

HEAD OFFICE & WORKS: Yaumati, Tel K, 32 HONGKONG DEPOT: 16, Stanley Street, Tel. 01279. KOWLOOK HOTEL DEPOT. KOWLOON DEPOT: 19, Canton Road. PEAK HOTEL DEPOT. | HONGKONG HOTEL (Visiters only).

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"All Rights Reserved

A VERY UNSATISFACTORY REPORT."

"WORLD'S SHIPPING AT LOWEST EBB,

ANNUAL MEETING OF INDO-CHINA S.N. 00..

THE PROPOSAL TO REDUCE WAGES OF FLOATING STAFF AND ITS RESULT.

At the forty-fifth ordinary general meeting of the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company, Limited, held at the offices of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co, Ltd, yesterday, the Hon. Mr. D. G. M. Bernard, who- "presided, said that the directors had a.very unsatisfactory report to submit. This he attributed to the chaotic conditions prevailing in China during the past year.

He also referred at length to the proposal made by the directors soon alter the Strike began, that the wages of the floating ata should be? reduced. It only resulted in an ultimatum from the China Coast Officers" Guild and the Marine Engineers' Guild that if the reductions were carried into effect the whole floating staff would cease work within twenty-four hours. The Company gave.in,

The Chairman further stated that at present the shipping of the whole world was at its lowest ebb But he felt that the worst had been passed, and that it would now soon reviva.

No dividend was recommended this year on either the preferred or deferred shares.

Those, present at the meeting were the Hon. Mr. D. G. M. Bernard, Mr. H. P. White, and the Hon Mr. A. O. Lang (directors), and Messrs. R. Mein Austin, R. Sutherland, N. LH. Railton; Capt P. Rolfo, Messrs. P. Tod, W. B. Cornaby, E. B. C. Hornell, G. 3. Shaw, D. McMurray, J. Baptista, A. M. da Silva, H. B. Coxon, Ho Leung, J. Fleming (shareholders) Mr. M. H. Turner (the Company's solicitor) also attended.

LATE SIR PAUL CHATER.

Directors.

The Hon. Mr. D. G. M. BERNARD, the Chairman, in his speech, said: Gentle men, It is with feelings of deep regret that I make reference to the great loss the Company has sustained in the recent death of Sir Paul Chater, one of our Sir Paul joined the Board- about eleven years ago, and during such time, has taken a keen interest in the Company and its affairs. His knowledge of local-conditions of trade was invalu able and the benefit of his personal in quence will be ineplaceable in this, and in other companies be was associated

with

CHINA'S 'CHAOTIC CONDITIONS. It is with much regret that your Direc tors have to submit such very unsatis factory report on the year's working, but all who have been in touch with the chao tic conditions prevailing in China can- not, I fear, have anticipated otherwise.

SHIPPING AT LOWEST EBB,

THE SACRIFICE.

It will be noted that this proposal in- stond of being a fat 20 per cent, reduc- tion, is based on a co-operative principle and the actual amount of sacrifice we asked th's Staff to make stated in dollars and centa was as follows:-

MARRIED MIN.

HONGKONG STOCK EXCHANGE,

CLOSING QUOTATIONS.

Bangkong Bank...............................

Do London

JUN 10TH, 1920.

$1,100 buy.

£13) nom

konom.

......£13ɔm,

| Chartered Bank...................

Mercantile Bank, A. & B......£50 nom,

Do..

Bank

P. 40

Pay and Shore Contri-East Azin Baat.

Allowance. butes

Cauton"Insuranca .............. Ohian Underwriters. 85053 North Chins Insurance

Senior Mastor 8665.99 Senior Chief Engineer., 577.350 Senior Chief Officer... 377.14 Senior Second Offer... 89.85 Senior Third Officer.... 289.80

SINGLE MEN.

87.75

19.95

Union Largrance

ILIA

183 nom.

31.50 nom. The 145 nom. $989 buy.

bay.

Yangtare Insurance ................................$87) bay. China Fire Lasarmace........180 day.

Hongkong Fire insurance $370 Douglasea

30.

Contri-H. & M. Steamboats...$402 buy,16,10 sm.

butes. Hongkong Tog 860.53

Indo-Chinas (FraL) ...

Do (Def.),

34.SS Shell Transportz

52.50

34.99 Star Forma

25.71

Waterbosts.

95.1

China Sugar

95.71

Malabon Bugare

all to

Pay. Senior Master

$606.36 Senior Chief Engineer.. 395.00 Senior Chief Officer.... 349, 86 Senior Second Engineer 342.86 Senior Second Officer... 287. 14 Senior Third Engineer.. 957.14° Senior Third Oficer .... 937.14

This would have amounted in $10,64% per month and the Genera? Man- gers were prepared to contribute a simi- lar amount. The Directors also wero willing to accept one-third of the ordinary lees; that is £500 to be divided amongst them, instead of £1,500.

In this connection it must be remem- bered that our" present rate of pay is still on the highest scale in vogue during

Kades Mining A..... Benguets....

Langkata (combined)

(single) Shangha Explorations.. shanghai Loans Haube Tronos Min Ural Caspians HK & K Wharis, H.K. & W. DocEK Hongkow Now Engineerings..

war years and is paid at the favourable Shanghai Dooka..

£90,088. 7. ed.

1,664. 1. 6d.

Star Ferrio

ELK. Turisteriais.

Stu nom,

„-16. nom.

.92% buy.

*9632 bay, 512 on.

sió nom.

nom sits nam ..$21 bay.

+1/bay. The 241 al

bay.

Dom.

L. 7 BOUL.

35 nom.

.65/- som.

1123 buy $55 BO 1. 175 buy.

5.90 nom.

„Tim, lub bug-

$84) buy. 644 sa

13109 ony, 10,80 sel.

bay.

THOM SÍ

25 eta no

.K. Developments.... Zumphreys Estates181- Arince's Buildings

95 m Rural Lauds ........................$7 non.

Cattons. I'ls. 92. buy. Oriental

Tla. 8 nom Shanghai Cottons (old). 63 bay

Do. (now)....bay. his Buses...

Ths. 10.90 nom. Hongkong Tramways.....$25.10 bay.

$16 bay. Peat 11ama (old)

Da (2#W).....

37.20 buy. 55 pou Singapore Tractions Amusements ................ Dantan icas........ Cements (combined)

The important question of overhead charges has been referred to on several exchange of half the Sterling amount at occasions at our annual general meetings 1/3d. and half at 2/0d. Further, the E && Hotels. following additional Floating Staff ex- Hongkong Landa ............. when it has been pointed out that the peases were borne by the Company dur-Hongkong Realtys... scale of pay and concessions to.. Floating ing 1925- Staff are out of proportion to the earn-Home Leave & Passages... ing power of the Company, especially Safe Navigation Bonus

Wives Passages

3,939. 10. 3d. during the present time of general ship-f.. Shore Allowance... 4,40 1.50

Pensions

·8,003.24. ed. ping depression.

Pay in vessels running out of the United

At our meetings with the Staff it will kingdom has been very materially de-of course be understood that only com creased to meet the position but even paratively few could attend. We invited then owners have been obliged to resort discussion but were very disappointed to extensive laying up, and world wide that there was no comment except that shipping to-day may be said to be at negotiations must be carried on through about its lowest ebb.

the Guilds; so another consultation took place with the local Guild Officials on PROPOSED WAGES REDUCTION.

February 12th, when we asked what In view of the very serious outlook, action our men would take if the pro- your Directors felt compelled to submit posals were made effective on 1st March, proposals of reduced pay to the Floating bearing in mind the extremely bad effect Staff, but although a co-operative scheme of a strike ander the conditions then was put forward, it only resulted in an existing. In reply we were told that the ultimatum from the China Coast Oficers' question would have to be submitted to Guild and the Marine Engineers' Guild the Members of the Guilds, and the local of China in the form of a letter giving Officials promised to convene meetings twenty-four hours' notice of a strike. This matter is, I think, of sufficient in soon, as possible to consider the matter. portance for me to give you details of

What we had been all along trying to what transpired

obtain was an expression of opinion from our own men but this we were unable. Ropus (combined). to do and the matter had therefore again 150,

(und) (NOW)

tary

It seemed proper that to commerce with, the position generally should be discussed with the Ufficials of the China Coast Officers' Guild and the Marino Engineers' Guild, and accordingly I had As mentioned in the Report, the rates of consultation with the Hongkong Secre of the former body on the 24th July freight even during the first six months. of the year were on an unremunerative basis, when the position of the Company was with the exception of a short spurt intheplaced before him and a proposal made Bangkok Hongkong trade during May for a reduction of 20 per cent. in wages when the berth quotations Torfaside It was also arranged that a further meet the bar loading, touched 55 cents per ing would be held at a later date. This picul. This immediately led to Bangkok took place on the 9th October and the raillers covering their requirements for Hongkong Secretaries of both. Guilds were some time ahead by arranging, consecu present. At this meeting we were inform- tive lump sum charters, which worked out ed that at meetings of members in Hong- at about 30-40 cents per picul. These kong and Shanghai it had been decided were meatly taken up by vessels under not to accept a 50 per cent reduction the Norwegian fag.

We therefore enquired if a less reduction would be agreed to, and after further meetings of the members to discuss it, we were informed that they would not agree to any reduction.

The improvement was short-lived, as shipping business was thrown into chaos by the anti-British agitation and boycott which began in June. The nature and extent of this movement is so familiar to those resident in the Far East and in fact to the world generally, that it is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon it; suffice it to say that while it has. very seriously affected our Company's carn- ings, it must have also resulted in heavy losses, to many of our loyal native sup porters. I trust that this mere passing reference to the conditions, in China will be sufficient to indicate the difficulties and complications which during the period under review beset shipping in these parts.

MALICIOUS PROPAGANDA.

As this decision had been made by the members of the Guilds as a whole, that is to say, those voting included members of other Companies as well as our own, we considered it essential to convene. ineetings of our own employees and ex- plain the position to thom fully ourselves. After ascertaining from the Guild local Secretaries that they would put ne ob. stacle in the way of such meetings, these were held in Hongkong and Shanghai on the 13th January and 1st February re spectively.

تم کو

THE PROPOSALS.

At the meetings in question, alter deal- The disabilities under which our opera-ing in full detail with the necessity of tions were conducted were unfortunately cutting down expenses as much as pos not confined to Swatow and Canton, sible during the very bad times the Com- where vessels under the British flag have pany was passing through, a proposal was not been able to handle any cargo since put forward in the following form:-- last June, as the trail of malicious and unjust propaganda was in evidence in ports at the extreme, limit of the navigable rivera of China.

As may be anticipated therefore, condi- tions prevailing during the last half of the year called for mast careful deliberation. in the management of the fleet, and every effort was directed to strictest economy. The uncertainty of the future, however, made any "cut and dried" scheme im- possible to formulate with any degree of confidence, but I would state that all steps possible were taken to safeguard the interests of shareholders.

Apart from important. connections in the Calcutta" trade our main source. of revenue is derived from through traffic, from ports on the Upper Yangtze such as Chungking and Tchang; to Hankow, Shanghai, Swatow, Hongkong and Can- ton; but with a boycott rigorously im- posed in Southern ports, it is easy to perceive that there must be a severe drop

in our revente..........

The diniculty consignees experienced in disposing of timber in Cantos, occasion- ed a partial lay-up of our Borneo, steam-

€28.

1. Reduce the pay of all Foreign nmployees 20 per cent. This is estim ated to effect a saving to the Company

of £30.000 per annum

Dio. Do..

(old)

$4 BOUL $11) nom. 37) nom. ..$14.10 bay.

$13 nom.

(now) ....................¥3 nom.

Chins Lights (combined)

China

Do

Do.

(ski) (new)

Providents. Constructions Dairy Farma......

Der A Wing-*** Hongkong huectrics me o Macho Bioctrica

the roted on by the Guild Members as Lane Urawford. A whole although our contention was that Mackintoshs....... it was a matter that rested solely be ac tween this Company and its employeen.

A DIRECT REFUSAL The reply came in the form of a letter dated 28th February, signed by the As sistant Secretary, China Coast Officers' Guild, and Branch "Secretary, Marine Engineers' Guild of China. The letter reads as follows:-

"We are directed to hand you a reply to the question asked by your Mr. Bernard at the, interview of the 12th instant, na to what action your Floating Staff will take when, the Cir- colar, announcing a reduction of their salaries, is made effective on the 1st March, 1926.

The answer is, that, having received all the correspondence which has pass ed Between the Company and both Guilds, as well as a report of the inter- view of the 12th inst., if the salary reduction announced in the Circular is not cancelled in its entirety on or be fore the 1st March and the Guilds notified before noon on the 27th Febr uary that this is being done, there will be ne alternative but for the Company's Floating Staff to carse work im- mediately their respective vessels are safely berthed, docked or moored at their next part of call after the 1st March, 1928.

"A PISTOL AT OUR HEADS," With reference to what I have just read, I would explain that no circular such as referred to had been issued.

Notwithstanding our earnest endeavour to bring about co-operation between the Company and its employees during bad times, the reply was presented in the 2. The General Managers realize that form of "a pistol at our heads." I in many cases this may produce a great submit that there were various ways in hardship on married men with families which an answer might have been given. and they therefore have decided to Ovbiously the rate of pay in respect of share this sacrifice equally with the men actually on articles could not be al- Stall. That is to say they themselves, tered except by mutual consent, and it

Mesare, Jardine, Matheson & Co., seems inexplicable to me why Ltd., will pay the Staff 10 per cent of statement that our Floating Staff were their pay. This will mean the Staff not prepared to renew existing articles will receive only 10 per cent. less than at a reduced rate of pay would not have at present instead of 20 per cent, but met the case, unless of course, the Guilds the saving to the Company will still be desired to make a demonstration. the samo.

"(Contained on page 3),

3. In order to assist married men below the rank of Master or Chief Engineer, the reduction for them will be only 10 per cent of which the General Managers will refund to the men 6 per cent this making a reduc- tion, to the married men of only 5 per cunt.

The other conditions of service will remain unaltered except as a tem porary measure we will be prepared to pay in cash to employees when due for Home leave the equivalent of the passages they are entitled to and Home leave pay, and leave them to make what arrangements they wish for holi-

days.

3. Finally, I may say that the Direc tora have decided to accept almost nominal fees while this reduced scale of pay is in forca. They will receive altogether £500 between them as against 21,500 normally.

As a set off against loss of trade in boycott areas, persistent efforts were made to raise rates on lines which were only succted in a lesser degree by the political situation, but the volume of ton- nage seeking employment eventually necessitated a reversion to rates, of 'freigat, which in many cases showed a smart loss. However, any business out side of our regular lines was only con sidered when the result of the contem It is proposed to issue circulars an- plated voyage showed up better than anouncing these reductions with effect from temporary lay-up."

1st March, 1995.

merc

..$10 bay:

....$14ḥ bay, 15 en

..$lu buy. ..$c bay.

00 bay,

JAU 2014.

„318) nom.

14 nom. $0 nom.

$13) nodi

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