SHORTER WEEK IN INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 10

SHORTER WEEK IN INDUSTRY

Operation Delayed TIME FOR STUDY AND APPEAL September 1 the New Date The limitations of hours proposed in the Government’s three main industrial Bills this session will not come into operation until September 1, according to a statement made in an interview yesterday by the Minister of Labour, Hon. 11. T. Armstrong. The suspension of the hours clauses is being introduced so that employers who consider the limitations impracticable may have sufficient time to appeal to the Arbitration Court for extensions. Mr. Armstrong said the operation of the hours clause in the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill had been delayed until September 1 by an amendment made to the Bill by the Labour Bills Committee of the House of Representatives. He himself would move a similar amendment to the Factories Amendment Bill when the committee stage was continued, and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill would be altered in the same manner by the Labour Bills Committee of the Legislative Council.

“We do not want to be unreasonable in the matter,” Mr. Armstrong said. "By postponing the operation of the hours clause until September 1, we will be giving the employers ample time to lodge their objections. There will be ample time, too, for the court to hear the objections.” The Government’s original intention had been to allow for a breathing space between the passing of the legislation and the operation of compulsory shorter hours, Mr. Armstrong continued. Actually he had started workon the drafting of the three Bills concerned in January, and they had been completed in February. However, there had been a delay in the opening of the session, and then for a start more important business had had to receive consideration. It was only fair that the original interval of a few months between legislation and operation should be restored.

"A representative of the employers has informed me that, the delay will be most welcome,” Mr. Armstrong said. We want to give them reasonable time to study the position, and I think we are doing so.” The limitations of hours to be effected under the three industrial Bills are as follow: —Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, 40hour week ; Factories Amendment Bill, 40-hour week; Shops and Offices Amendment Bill 44-hour week for shop assistants. In all cases there is provision for employers to approach the Arbitration Court and show why tihe shorter hours would be impracticable in their particular industries. Mr. Armstrong also stated that he might have to arrange for an amendment to the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill to cover tfiie position of businesses where Jewish employers did not require their staffs to work at all On Saturdays. Some provision for extended hours on week days might oe reasonable.