SHORTER WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 291, 8 December 1937, Page 8

SHORTER WEEK.

CLAIM BY UNION.

STOREMEN AND PACKERS.

DOMINION AWARD SOUGHT,

The application for a Dominion award covering storeinen and packers in wholesale warehouses occupied the attention of the Second Court of Arbitration this morning. Mr. Justice Hunter presided, and with him were Messrs. W. E. Anderson and A. W. Croskery.

The application was by the New Zealand Federated Storeinen and Packers (other than retail shops) and Warehouse Employees' (other than drivers and clerks) Industrial Union of Employees, who were represented by Messrs. W. Brotherson and W. Miller. Mr. H. J. Bishop appeared for the employers. Hours of work and wages were the chief matters in dispute, but other items included the weight to be handled or trucked by one man.

Yesterday afternoon evidence was called by the employers (by arrangement with the union) to substantiate their claim for a 44-hour week of five and a half days. That evidence was continued this morning. It was stated that the elimination of Saturday morning work would mean a loss of business that could not be made up. "Business to-day requires selling" said Mr. P. Shaw, Auckland manager for ..argood, Son, and Ewen, giving evidence, service could not be given to the clients, who would be inconvenienced. Thev supplied small retail firms, which were working a five and a half dav week. Ordeis had to be dispatched bv sea and other means of transport on Saturday Settmg out the case for the union'. ' r ereon urged the institution of a 40-hour five-day week to be worked SdT" 8 1 a " ,n ' ,a " d 5 p '"" Monday to J "day inclusive. Records taken in the four centres showed that in stores where employers were parties to the Storemen and Packers' Award, 231 ww fa" 44*1. * 4<Miou T week > 2 76 were workh " r^u Urtl ' a 458 were work in o- 44 hours, lhe union asked for a 7 a m start day r w«k n<l Pr<KlUCe 6t ° reS With » five-

The union asked for £0 „ r "foremen and packers 21 years of 1 and over, and £5 in/ f . t packers in o/tZ o It was pointed out that th ° 10 I J lcn ' had been regarded in I n H ■ workels ;F present award the weight, - Evidence «£i°n 1" e nesses in substantiation of thlZ'L^s.

(Proceeding.)