SHORTER WEEK?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 172, 22 July 1936, Page 10

SHORTER WEEK?

PRINTING TRADES.

" REDUCTION MOT JUSTIFIED."

EMFIOYEES' SUBMISSIONS,

(By Telegraph'.—Press Association.)

Tuesday

Reference to tlio position of tho Arbitration Court in regard-to applications for extensions of tho 40-hour week was made in the Court to-day by Mr. E. W. Clarkson, secretary of the Federated Master Printers.

Mr. Clarkson submitted that the legislation was not a peremptory direction to the Court to reduce tho working hours in factories to 40, that the discretion given to the Court was not limited, but. might bo exercised whenever the conditions of employment in an industry were brought under review by the presentation of proposals for a new award. He submitted that a limitation to 44 hours was the only peremptory direction to the Court. By other enactments tho Legislature had fixed hours for shops at 44. In respect of other occupations it had considered 40 hours would be the ideal arrangement, but it had placed on the Court tho responsibility of determining whether that ideal could bo applied in practice. He indicated that the caso was being presented not only in the confidence that the representations were based on incontestable iacts, but also in the firm belief that the Legislature did not contemplate the undermining of industries of such magnitude and importance, but sincerely intended that the Couit should examine the facts presented it with a 'View of determining whether it was necessary to relieve these industi ie 3 from the restrictions that prevent them carrying on their operations profitably. The Time Factor. Mr. J. M. Hardcastle, representing the newspaper proprietors, pointed out that the whole cycle of processes in producing a newspaper had to begin and finish every day. Newspapers had to be produced with normal punctuality, because no matter how remarkable the daV's news "might be the value of the newspaper containing it would be utterly destroved if it were not punctually distributed to the Tho total time available was so restricted that the proposed, reduction of liours by 20 minutes a day was far greater than the reserve available* at present. E\en if the margin of reserve time could be restored by installing extra machines and employing extra men, there was no evidence tilat such a solution would he practicable. The employers submitted that the proposed reduction of hours was not justified by the consideration of physical or social welfare oi the employees, that it was not justified as a means of increasing employment, and that the principal effect would be to increase the wages of the workers, who already were more highly paid than the workers in any other industry. Two questions had to be decided before the proposed application of the legislation to the newspaper industry could be confirmed. Firstly, was there any rational justification "for granting the workers in _ an industry a bonus on their wages equivalent to payment at overtime rates for 120 hours or more each year? The employers submitted there was not. Secondly, was tliero any rational justification for imposing upon employers in tho industry an additional burden of costs already inflated by other statutory provisions? They'submitted that there was not? Higher Production Costs. The costs of newspaper production had risen rapidly in recent years, and the profits from newspaper enterprise had been drastically reduced. Application was made for a 44-liour week and for the removal of other limitations prescribed by section 3 of the Act.

Evidence regarding the position of the newspaper companies and the requirements of newspaper publishing was called.

On behalf of 95 occupiers of factories engaged in commercial printing and eight engaged solely in thep roduction of manufactured stationery, Mr. Clark--son produced evidence to show the embarrassed state of the industry, and that a 40-hour week would be quite impracticable.

Messrs. C. H. Chapman and K. Baxter opposed the application on behalf of the workers, and produced statistics to show that the industry was capable of expansion. The Court reserved its decision. Mr. Clarkson briefly outlined the employers' case for a 44-hour week in the photo-engraving section of the printing industry, and said a vast amount of overtime would be necessary under a 40hour week. The Court's decision was reserved. At the suggestion of Mr. A. W. Croskerv, appearing for the Xew Zealand Journalists' Association, the Court granted an adjournment of an application for an amendment to that part of the journalists' agreement relating to hours of work. If there was no room foi a Wellington fixture, the hearing would lake place in Auckland.

WELLINGTON TRAMWAYMJ&f.

40-HOUII WEEK APPROVED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. -After hearing a deputation from the lramway Employees' Union, the Wellington City Council decided last ni-ht to introduce the 40-hour week for tramway niotonnen and conductors and to pay extra overtime rates. Motions that the questions be referred to the Arbitration Court for consideration were defeated by eight votes to five. A report presented to a previous meeting of the council by the tramway committee estimated that the additional wage costs for the traflic branch alone would amount to £31.000. but the employees' deputation submitted a return in which they estimated the increase at £21,490.

TRAMWAY UNION MEETINGS,

Two largely attended meetings, of the Auckland Tramway Employees' Union were held yesterday to consider proposals arising from conferences between representatives of the union and of the Auckland Transport Board in connection with the proposed introduction to the service of the 40-hour week. So announcement as to the result of the deliberations is being made in the meantime in view of the fact that the board's representatives have not yet submitted their report to tho board.