NO AGREEMENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 298, 28 September 1938, Page 8

NO AGREEMENT

LOCAL. BODY OFFICIALS. LIMIT OF 40 HOURS A WEEK, (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. September 27. After a two-dav hearing, the Wellington district local bodies officers dispute in Conciliation Council was adjourned until October 10. No agreement was reached on any ol the major points.

A diversify of opinion was evident among the workers themselves when Saturday morning work was under discussion, though Air G. Al. Renner (secretary of the union) contended that In* Intel been advised by the majority of the members they did not want Saturday work. Mr Harding (Town Clerk ol Hastings): But when fhev want- to work on Saturdays von should not prevent them doing so. “Fridav is a real nightmare now since this five-day week came in,” said Mr Norman (Town Clerk of Wellington). “I know a lot of our fellow's would, rather he able to work on Saturdays, but I do not suppose they tell Mr Renner that.” It was finally agreed that where the employees desired to work on Saturday mornings they should not he prevented doing so, although they must work a 40-hour week. “My staff would he glad to know that,” said Mr Harding. “Although I am an employees’ assessor here they asked to see that they were not prevented working the hours they want.” Mr Harding had previously explained that they worked daylight saving hours and apparently preferred to he able to get away early in the afternoon and work on Saturday mornings than he compelled to go to work early in order to have Saturday mornings free. Convenience of farmers also entered into argument. Mr B.ishop (employers’ advocate) said: “You cannot educate a farmer to do till his business in a five-dav week.”

It was agreed that hours should not exceed 40 hours a week, to he allocated to suit the convenience of the local body, provided that in cases where Saturday morning work is not done at the date of making an award, the hours are not to he extended to (Saturdays. No agreement could fie reached on the hours of outdoor officers and supervising officers. Thu employers .pointed out that these men might he required, to deal with emergencies. which made it necessary that their hours should lie spread as required. Air Renner objected to supervising officers being asked to work longer hours than the men they were supervising without, any compensation. He was not even prepared to discuss the employers' proposal that, where unusual hours of work were dictated by the exigencies of public service, the hours of work might be extended to 10 in any one day, and over seven days a- week, provided the hours did not exceed 120 in three weeks.

It was agreed that certain specified officers should he regarded as emergency officers, who could he called to work on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, provided they were not worked more than five eight-hour days in any week. Mr Renner would not agree to no extra payment, and the question of recompense was held over.