HOURS OF WORK IN WOOLLEN MILLS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 281, 22 August 1940, Page 12

HOURS OF WORK IN WOOLLEN MILLS

Mr. Barber’s Statement

REPLY BY MINISTER OF LABOUR

The remarks appeared to cast, unwarranted reflections on the committee, which was giving excellent service, said the Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb, when replying yesterday to a statement, made by the chairman of the 'Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company, Limited, Mr. W. H. P. Barber. Mr. Webb said it was regrettable that Mr. Barber bad stated that the hours commitlee of the Industrial Emergency Council had refused the extension of five hours a week to woollen mill workers without disclosing the full facts of the matter. ‘•Tlie connnittee referred to has no power either to grant or to refuse an extension of hours under the Emergency Regulations, its functions being io investigate matters referred to it by the Emergency Council arising our of war conditions and report to me through the council, a duty which it is carrying out to my entire satisfaction.” Mr. Webb said. Shift Work Introduced.

"Following the procedure adopted in oilier industries, the committee recommended that provision be made to enable shift work to be performed in woollen mills in order to increase production, and an Emergency Order was issued on June 19 last. It should be mentioned that the Factories Act and the award did not permit women or boys to be employed on shift work. As a result of the Emergency Order, shift work has been adopted, as for example, a recent report states in respect: of lhe Roslyn mill, ‘this mill is working two complete shifts, in all departments, and extensive overtime on both shifts; while in lhe carding and spinning departments three shifts are being worked. The mill is at present working to capacity.’ "Similar arrangements have been made In other mills, and T would like here to express my appreciation of the manner in which the workers and mill owners have responded to the appeals made to produce to Lire utmost. "It is true that there is a shortage of skilled operatives in brandies cf the work, but endeavours hare been made to train workers, and a large number of untrained workers have been taken into the factories during the last two or three months. Insufficient Evidence.

"An application was received by me from the secretary of the 'Woollen Mills’ Association to work nine hours a day on live days of the week at ordinary rates of pay. The committee dealt very fully with this application. I understand that the application was not supported by sufficient evidence to enable the committee to vary its previous decision. However, the association was invited by letter dated July 29, 1940, to supply the committee with certain specific information in order that the matter could be further investigated, and I am advised that, up to the present, no reply has been received. “I might mention that among the matters that, have been dealt with as a result, of the Emergency Council’s activities orders have been gazetted extending the hours in munition works, timber mills, shearing sheds, tinsmithing and sheet metal works engaged in making equipment in the dairying industry, clothing, factories tanneries, cement asbestos roofing works, and cheese factories. "The fact that these orders have all been put through during the comparatively short period of nine weeks and all as a. result of recommendations made to me by the Factory Hours Committee of the Industrial Emergency Council is sufficient, reply to Mr. Barber's implication that applications for extension of hours do not receive sympathetic consideration from that committee.’’