SIX-DAY WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 113, 14 May 1936, Page 10

SIX-DAY WEEK.

DAIRY FACTORIES' PROBLEM. AMENDMENT PROMISED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Tlie six-day week provision - for creameries and dairy factories in the Factories Amendment Bill is to be amended according to. a statement made by the Minister of Labour, Mr. Armstrong, when making his second reading speech in the House to-day. The Minister said that while no reasonable objection had been taken to\ the six-day-week in dairy factories, particularly in the larger ones, it had been pointed out to him that there would be some difficulty in the way of giving effect to the proposal as far as the smaller factories were concerned, as there would not be sufficient employees expert in their line, and it would be almost impossible to get extra fielp when required. He had discussed the question with representatives of dairy factories, and one from the Waikato had pointed out to him that the dairy com' panics were not complaining on the score of expense, but on the score that a six-day-week was an unworkable proposition in the small factories. With an exemption from the provisions of the measure, the small factories were prepared to give the equivalent of the extra time worked in time oiT on full pay at the conclusion of the | season. It was along those lines that the amendment would be drafted. Mr. Armstrong said the provision would also have tP apply to Christmas Day and Boxing Day. "Irrespective of holidays, cows have to be milked, and the dairy factories worked," said the Minister. The men would, have to be! compensated for work done on those days, and it was suggested that time | off in compensation should be given. ! Mr. A. Hamilton (National, Wallace), who opened the debate from the Opposition benches, expressed satisfaction with the Minister's promise to bring in another clause dealing with the working week at dairy factores. because there : were real difficulties. In carrying out the j bill as at present drafted. i