WOMEN WORKERS IN FACTORIES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 10

WOMEN WORKERS IN FACTORIES

V : ; • —- OVERTIME LIMIT EXTENDED [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.. WELLINGTON. August 1. Acting on the recommendation of the Industrial Emergency Council, the limit of overtime prescribed by the Factories Act for women employed in factories has been extended in view' of the war situation. . This statement was made by* the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) in a reply in the House of Representatives to an urgent question by Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton). Mr Kyle inquired why factories in New Zealand turning out battle dress uniforms, and working nigh overtime on the job, had received no decisive reply to an application to the factory controller for r permission to work the factories on Saturday mornings to fulfil war orders. -“The production of battle dress in the initial stages involved some problems in factory organisation, but once these were solved, production quickly came up to the rate set by the factory controller, who has no knowledge of the application for factory work referred to by the Member for Riccarton,” said Mr Fraser. “The peak figure for battle dress production necessary to meet army requirements has been already passed, and all fi.ms doing this work now have a reduced weekly allocation, continuing for the re- ■ mainder of this- year, an it is con* 'sidered'i that this proauction can be achieved within ordinary working hours. “The New Zealand Clothing Trades Employees’- Award does not - prevent work .on Saturday mornings, but of course wartime rates must be paid in accordance with the award for all time in excess of the weekly number of hours prescribed, or for work on Saturday .mornings. If any difficulty should develop in this trade in respect to output the matter 'will receive immfediate attention.” Fraser recalled statements by Mr Herbert Motrison -and Mr Ernest Bevin in which they had referred to the danger of an excess of hours, not only reducing output but undermining the health of workers.