THAT 40-HOUR WEEK

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 201, 22 May 1936, Page 6

THAT 40-HOUR WEEK

Free Ambulance May Be Affected ADDITIONS TO STAFF "Upsetting" is the term a good many heads of businesses in New Zealand are using in respect to the proposed -10hour working week. One of the institutions that will feel the change is the Wellington Free Ambulance, winch discussed the matter at yesterday’s meeting of the board. The superintendent (Mr. F. Roffe) presented a report setting out in detail the present roster under which the bearers worked, which required special manipulation to provide for a 24-hour service. Air. Roffe concluded his report by stating that the institution of a strict 40-hour week would mean that three extra bearers would have to be employed for the first year at £253 each and the second (and thereafter) at £269 per annum. He said that originally when the roster of hours was arranged, the basic rate of pay was fixed accordingly. Consequently a five-day week of 40 hours was something quite different.

The president (Air. C. J. B. Norwood) said that the report was objective, as the board would naturally wish to know where it stood if the proposed new law were applied to the Free Ambulance. “I urge that nothing be done in the meantime,” said Air. C. H. Chapman, M.P., who was hurrying away to keep an appointment with a Minister. "There is no hurry! As to services such as are supplied by free ambulances and fire brigades there is no provision in the Bill to meet such eases. Probably there will have to be a compromise as between staffs and boards. In any case, the Act docs not come into force until September 1.” The president mentioned that a deputation had recently waited on the Hon. W. Nash in regard to some concession in taxation on petrol used by the board. Possibly, he suggested, an allowance could be made in that direction to offset the added cost of additional staff. It was a serious matter, as what with uniforms, etc., it was going to cost the board between £BOO and £9OO a year extra. He also explained how the roster had been arranged to allow 7 the men the maximum time off each fortnight. There was no complaint from the staff as to existing conditions —they were quite happy.