FIVE-DAY WEEK TO BEGIN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21939, 13 November 1936, Page 15

FIVE-DAY WEEK TO BEGIN

HOURS IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES - earlier start in mornings Beginning this week, public servants in most Government departmental offices throughout New Zealand w work only five days a week, no work being done on Saturdays. Tte !»>»• mation was received from Wellington bv the departments concerned yeawarday, and where possible the rule will become operative immediately, only offices in which difficulties arise are those which have most to dowttn the public. The only major depart: ments which are not affected by me change are the Customs Department. Registry of Births. Deaths, and Marriages. and the Railways Department. The Pensions Department, and those which may be termed trading departments, are unlikely to make the change ihi” week, because of the great Inconvenience which would be caused. Meagre instructions were received late yesterday afternoon and more detail* ere awaited by the officers in charge of the departments. The five-day week, with a skeleton staff on Saturdays, was introduced by the Post Office last week. The Pensions Department will re~ main open on Saturday mornings with a skeleton staff, but only for the payment of pensions. None of the three trading departments is yet certain as to what Its weekly hours will be. Because to-day is a public holiday and engagements have already been made for Saturday, it is likely that the Public Trust Office and tiie Government Life and State Fire Insurance Offices will remap* open to-morrow, even if only witn skeleton staffs. The heads of the Christchurch offices of these departments are all awaiting more detailed instructions from Wellington, and they consider that the change is likely to be made next week. The present hours of all the Government departments are from &30 am. to 4.30 p.m. on five days, and from BJO a.m. to 11.30 a.m. on Saturdays, making a week of 38 hours. Under the near schedule they will be required to start work at 8 a.m. on the five days on which the offices will be open and work until 4.35 pm., thus making a week, of 37} hours. Although there seems to be confusion in some of the departments as to toe possibility of introducing the change immediately because of short notice, it is regarded as certain that although to-morrow is a general holiday, those departments which are not closely concerned with the public will not be open to-morrow morning. But whatever happens to-morrow morning, the officers will be required to start walk at 8 am. on Monday.