Jones and O'Leary setore Jack-peca

yesterday of his desire to see Phase Two of the Devlin speed-up scheme implemented on the docks.

He told the inquiry, chaired by Lord Pearson who headed the inquest into the 1966 seamen's strike, that 'the claim, is part of an attempt to modernize wages in the industry just as the industry itself has been modernized'.

He warned that the émployers' refusal to grant the claim was 'risking a change in mood on the part of the dockers which, unless the present claim is dealt with sensibly, could bring a change of heart about some of the modernization negotiations that the employers are assuming too readily are in the bag.

WAY OPEN

'What we are saying is that the £20 guarantee offer made by the employers should be adapted to take into account solidays by being merged anto overtime and the minimum daily wage,' he HULL said Modernizhe a schemes the modernization consolidated basic rate.

Jones' evidence was followed by a plea from docks secretary Tim O'Leary who plained that his friends' the employers were making his job impossible.

STRAIGHT GAME 'We try and play the game straight, he added.

'We are expected to stand up in the industry and be responsible for the actions of our men. I'm asking myself whether I'm mad.

I know the employers well as individuals, they give me their word and I will take it.

I'm a Britisher, I am not quarrelling with this country and I don't want to embarrass the government.

'Of all the people who've led this dock industry since 1926 I am the bloke who's more to the right than any other leader and yet I'm leading this strike.' WASTED PLEAS But O'Leary's pleas were wasted on employérs' leader George Tonge who stressed their determination to resist basic rate increases.

It is vitally important,' he said, 'that the Devlin Stage Two negotiations are not hindered by an increase in the national basic rate.

'Acceptance of the claim accompanied, as we are certain it would be, by increases in piece ratés would remove any incentive on the men's part to proceed with the implementation for the negotiation of Devlin Stage Two and would thus prevent the modernization and improvement of their own wages structure and the operation of the ports.

The dock employers are quite clearly determined to resist the dockers' claim to the end.

They have the backing of iN: GPROPATING, THI On eve of L.P. conference for ten issues for the fortnight. 1 Name / Address

The shipowners federatiot and the unions are to set up an inquiry into earnings and hours and the possibility of a new pay structure. • Tomorrow Workers Press will contain an article by Bernard Franks, 'Seamen face dockers' problem — Modernization means giant job cuts.

This analyses the continuous cut-back in jobs faced by seamen because of the development of container ships and giant bulk carriers, automation, faster turn-rounds and repairs and productivity deals on board ship.

Warning

to MPs MR WILLIAM WHITELAW, Leader of the House of Commons, yesterday announced that the summer recess would last from next Friday until * Set. October 27.

But, he warned, the House might have to be recalled 'should the present emergency regrettably extend' beyond a month.