Another Wage Rise For Png Seamen

Papua New Guinea seamen, serving in ships operating between Australia and PNG, have been granted their second wage hike in less than three months. The first, agreed to in September, and made retrospective to July 1, gave deckhands $32 a month (previously $26) with pro portionate increases for bosuns and quartermasters.

The latest rise, operative from October 21, sends deckhands up another $l2 a month to $44. Other new rates are $59 a month for sea men with a year’s satisfactory sea time (previously $36), $6B for

seamen with three years and more (up $3O), and appropriate rises for leading seamen and senior ratings.

Negotiations under Labour Depart ment chairmanship were by China Navigation, Karlander and Mr. Albert Maori Kiki, a union leader. At the September hearing, the shipowners asked the department to encourage seamen to form a union, so that they would have someone with whom to negotiate. Apparently this union has not yet been formed, hence the presence of Mr. Kiki, who is pro minent in PNG union affairs, as sea men’s spokesman.

Big Loan For

Png Port Projects

The PNG Government is negotiat ng with the World Bank for a loan )f up to $ll million for port develop nent projects in the territory. The srojects will include a 600 ft wharf jxtension at Lae, reclamation of two 0 three acres at Port Moresby’s :argo storage site, the overseas wharf it Alotau and coastal installations at <ieta. The loan would also finance 1 $500,000 scheme for specialised tevedoring equipment and training or indigenous port staff.

>Ort Commission

: Ormed In Fiji

A Ports Commission in Fiji will ;xamine all port and wharf facilities ind make recommendations for their hture administration and develop nent. It will also study the existing >ort labour organisation in Suva and and decide on the future landling of labour.

A further point for it to look at, vill be cargo handling. It will recom nend whether a cargo-handling )rganisation should be formed. If he commission decides that an inde >endent port authority is needed, it vill be asked to submit recommenda ions on how it should be financed.

The Fiji Government will ask the 'overnments of Singapore, Jamaica ind Malaysia to second shipping experts to sit on the commission. The ieamen’s and Dockworkers’ Union ind the Fiji Employers’ Consultative Association will each have a rep esentative on the commission.

Moana Roa's' Fate

N The Balance

The future of the New Zealandlslands service with the Moana \oa should be known in December, ndications are that she may only *ade for another 12 months.

Her cargoes have declined steadily uring the last year, and particularly n the August, September and )ctober trips. Whereas the Moana 'oa once virtually had a monopoly n the service, she now has compe tion from three other ships. The >ss of $346,527 in the last financial ear, and the continuing decline in er fortunes, will provide the key 'hen the NZ Department of Maori nd Island Affairs considers whether ie should continue to run to the 'ooks,

Anabans Lose

Lew Fishing Boat

The Banabans of Rabi Island, iji, will have to buy another small ■aft for a fishing project they plan ) launch. The Tekokona, 32 ft,

which they bought about three months ago for $lB,OOO, was smashed in an accident at Millers wharf in Suva about mid-November.

A steel-hulled Korean fishing ship, the Nam Hae 253, snapped her moorings while her engines were running and crashed into the stern of the plywood Tekokona. The Teko kona was ready for sea after an ex tensive overhaul.

The accident happened only about an hour before the Banaban crew arrived to take over the Tekokona.

The Banabans were philosophical about the loss. Mr. Tekosi Rotan, general manager of Rabi Holdings, owners of the Tekokona, said the

people would buy another boat so that they could get on with then project.

Better Harbours

For Marshalls

Several of the Marshall Islands now have better harbours following completion of demolition projects, which involved dredging and widen ing channels for small boats and ships. The projects cost about $25,000.

Channels were blasted at Ailing laplap, Airok, Jaluit, Pinglap, Ebon Taka, Namorik Namorik, Mejit Mejit, Ailuk Enjie, Uterik Uterik and Watho Watho.