FORTY-HOUR WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 167, 16 July 1936, Page 11

FORTY-HOUR WEEK.

HOSPITAL WORKERS. NOT BOUND BY AWARDS? BOARDS TO TAKE NO ACTION. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) WAIHI, this clay. The 40-hour week was referred to in a circular letter from the New Zealand Hospital Boards' Association received at a meeting of the Waihi Hospital Board last evening-, the letter stating that the hours applied only to employees working under awards. In the past, hospital boards had not been bound by labour awards, stated the letter, for the reason that they did not function for pecuniary gain, and from inquiries made it had been ascertained that no alteration was contemplated ill this respect. While 110 obstacles could be placed in the way of employees of hospital boards taking steps to form a separate union or unions, their formation did not imply that registration would be granted. Even if boards were made parties to an award, it would be reasonable to expect that special conditions would be included in tlie award to provide for the peculiar position of boards, as it was obvious that there should be no restriction placed upon the work carried out in public hospitals. For this reason it was considered unnecessary for boards to take any action until such time as they were cited as parties to an award.