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174
Insurance
against fire.
Main drainage properties were re-valued for the purpose of fire insurance at
£472,620. Such properties include sludge vessels, structures, buildings and their
contents, including machinery, except such parts as are underground and not liable
to damage by fire.
Local sewers.
Section 69 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, provides that no local sewer
shall be made without the approval of the Council. During 1926 the construction
or reconstruction of 86,544 feet of sewers of various sizes has been sanctioned.
Buildings,
etc., over
sewers.
Under section 204 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, and section 68 of
the Metropolis Management (Amendment) Act, 1862, no building or any other
encroachment may be erected in, over or under any sewer vested in the Council except
with the Council's consent. During 1926 the Council gave its consent in 12 such cases.
Staff.
Reductions in the wages of officers and crews on general trading vessels (home
trade) of 10s. a week and 6s. 6d. a week respectively, as from 1st August, 1925,
having been decided by the National Maritime Board, such reductions were applied
under the arrangements in force to the officers of the Council's sludge vessels, and after
a confirming decision by the Thames District Maritime Board to the crews of the
vessels. Subsequently a demand was submitted, on behalf of the officers and crews,
for the immediate restoration of the rates previously in operation and for the settlement
of terms of a new agreement relative to this branch of the Council's service.
Negotiations were undertaken, but on 29th December, 1925, the crew of one of the
sludge vessels refused to proceed with the loading of the vessel and this lead was
followed at intervals by the crews of the other vessels, and the journeys of the vessels
ceased entirely on 1st January, 1926. The men refused the Council's offer, conditional
upon immediate resumption of work, of (i.) the restoration of the cuts
of 10s. to officers and 6s. 6d. a week to each member of the crews ; (ii.) the reference
to arbitration of the question whether any further additions should be made ; and
(iii.) immediate consideration by the Council of the methods by which wages in the
sludge vessels should be fixed for the future. Agreement was reached on 6th January,
1926, at a conference held at the offices of the Ministry of Labour, upon the following
conditions (i.) the restoration of the cuts ; (ii.) the reference to the Industrial Court
for arbitration of the question of further additional pay to be retrospective to
1st August; (iii.) consideration by the Council of the methods by which wages
in the sludge vessels shall be fixed in future ; (iv.) re-instatement of officers and men
in former or equivalent positions ; and (v.) immediate resumption of work, without
victimisation on either side. The service was re-started on 8th January, 1926. The
hearing of the difference between the Council and its employees before
the Industrial Court took place on 15th January, 1926, and the Court gave its award
as follows : " 10. The Court, have carefully considered the evidence and contentions
put before them and the admission by both sides that the work of the sludge
vessels is a special service, and are of opinion that, having regard to the nature of the
service, an advance, greater than the restoration of the ' cuts,' the reason for which
has already been referred to, is justified. The Court award that, as from 1st August,
1925, an advance be made in the rates of officers of 12s. 6d. a week, credit to be given
for all sums of 10s. a week already paid since that date; 9s. a week to all other
ratings except boys, and 7s. 6d. a week to boys, credit to be given for all sums of
6s. 6d. a week already paid. The Court desire to point out that the advance given
above is a general one and is to cover all the duties and services which have been
enumerated in the contentions urged on behalf of the officers and crews." The total
cost of the restoration of the cuts effected in August, 1925, and of the additional
sums awarded by the Court amounted to about £3,400 a year.
In the agreement of 6th January, 1926, above referred to, the Council undertook
to consider immediately the methods by which wages in the sludge vessels service
should be fixed in the future. The Council is in communication with the associations
and unions concerned.