INSTANt DISMISSAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 205, 29 August 1936, Page 10

INSTANt DISMISSAL

MEN WITH TWO JOBS,

WARNING BY MR. SEMPLE.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday.

A warping that instant dismissal would be given men engaged on public works who have been supplementing their incomes by taking other work on Saturday mornings was issued this evening, by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple.

"When the 40-hour week on public works was established," Mr. Semple said, "the men were given the right to work on the job on Saturday morning to make up any time lost during the week. That was purely optional. I have been informed that some men have refused to do that, but have been working on Saturdays for other employers and thus competing with men who have no job?.

"This will not be tolerated. It is a complete violation of the 40-hour principle and of the agreement signed in the name of those men. To use the Saturday to compete against men not fortunate enough to have jobs of their own is selfish.

"When these cases come before me —and I have asked for the names of the men—they will be instantly dismissed. They will then have a chance to work for the other employer, not part of the time, but all the time." The principle of the 40-hour week had been fought for by the legitimate Labour movement for years, Mr. Semple, and the men on public works were the first in New Zealand to enjoy that privilege. To • use that opportunity to defeat their less fortunate fellows, who were depending entirely on casual jobs, was playing a most unfair game*.