FACTORIES BILL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 202, 23 May 1936, Page 10

FACTORIES BILL

Quick Passage Given In

Council DAIRY INDUSTRY’S COSTS Attack Made on Two Clauses A quick passage was given the Factories Amendment Bill by the Legislative Council yesterday. The second reading debate was commenced at 11 a.m. and the measure was through the concluding stages by 1.10 p.m. and passed. Unsuccessful -attempts were made to amend the clauses relating to the working week of cheese factory employees and the provision against employers wrongfully dismissing workers as a result of the introduction of the 40bonr week.

The only amendments were those of which indication had been given by the Minister of Labour. These, were the postponement of the operation of the Act from June 1 to July 1, and the •10-hour week until September 1, and the clarification of the Sunday work provision, reducing such rates to double time instead of treble.

Explaining the Bill, the Leader of the Council, Hon. Al. Fagan said it was to extend the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to cover factory workers not included under awards or agreements. It would shortly be necessary to go still further to provide for shop and office workers.

.The Hon. F. Waite (Otago) predicted the closing of certain small cheese factories as a consequence of the application of the six-day week. He expressed concern that there would be a tendency for such factories to change over to butter-making. There were many agitated people in Southland at the present time who had guaranteed the finances of a number of factories. He would move an amendment to extend the exemption to factories employing three or four bauds. Well Worth While.

While agreeing that the six-day week in butter factories would entail higher costs, the Hon. J. Cotter (Auckland) said Hie industry would feel that the reduction of hours worked by. the staffs would be well worth while. As a dairy-farmer and dairy-factory director he was of opinion that a little extra cost would not adversely affect Mie companies. The Hon. T. O’Byrne (Southland) said the whole labour cost of butter manufacture did not exceed one halfpenny a pound, and the additional charge to the companies would be small. The 44-hour week was worked successfully in Queensland butter factories.

The Hon. J. McLeod (Taranaki) supported Mr. Waite’s suggestion to extend the exemption from the six-day week to cheese factories employing up to four hands. “I will support the proposed amendment if the exemption includes threeman cheese factories, but not necessarily four,” said the Hon. R. McCallum (Marlborough), - who asked Air. Fagan if he would request the Minister of Labour to agree to the amendment. Mr. Fagan said the guaranteed price would justify the reduction of dairy factory workers’ hours. The Committee Stage.

In committee, Mr. Waite renewed his plea for the extension of the dairy factory exemption. The guaranteed price would not greatly assist in meeting the extra cost thrown on the small cheese factories, he said. The higher labour costs on the farms alone would require an additional 3d. per lb. The Hon. J. Alexander (Auckland) urged that the application of the dairy factory clause be postponed for one J Support for Mr. Waite was given by Hie lion. E. It. Davis (Auckland!.

in reply, Mr. Fagan said the Minister of Labour had received many protests from dairy factory workers against the exemptions already granted under the Bill. Mr. Fagan said he was prepared to ask the Minister if he would inquire into the question of possible loss to joint and several guarantors of the overdrafts of small cheese factories. If it were established that loss was likely, an amendment no doubt could bo made in another place. Other than that he could not accept Mr. Waite's amendment. The amendment was defeated on the Exception to the clause stipulating that wages shall not be reduced on account of a reduction of working hours, or that a worker shall not be dismissed for the same reason, was taken by Mr. McLeod, who described it as a slur on decent employers. Mr. Alexander pointed out that the I rovl-h'ii imposed hardship on the em- • plOM’r vho could n<>t economically retain a worker because of increased costs. The Hou. T. F. Doyle (Southland)

said (he clause was a wise one. The Hon. C. J. Carrington (Auckland) agreed, and stated that he was itware of dismissals in anticipation of Hie 40-hour week. Mr. Fagan said there would be no hardship to a good employer. The Labour Department would not prosecute without very sound reason. He expressed the hoi>e that till employers would co-operate with Hie Government to show that the 40-hour week was practicable. An amendment to delete Hie clause v. as lost on the voices.

Mr. Waite asked if employees worktug on morning newspapers and required to work on Sundays would receive double time even though they were given a compensatory day off during the week.

Mr. Fagan replied that overtime would be payable to till workers nliii worked on Sunda.i s. The lliiril reading was carried on Hie voices ami Hie Bill was passed.

The Council adjourned at 1.10 p.m until Wednesday.