SATURDAY7 WORK FOR PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 12

SATURDAY 7 WORK FOR PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Proposals To Be Put Into Practice Officials of tlie Manufacturers’ Princess Committee in the Queen Carnival Patriotic Campaign intimated yesterday that, despite opposition from the Clothing Trades Union, the proposals for Saturday morning work by staffs of manufacturing firms to assist the patriotic funds were going to be put into practice. The proposals were that staffs should work six Saturday mornings at double rates of pay, it being understood that the wages for those mornings would be devoted to the patriotic fund. It was stated that girls controlled by the union concerned had held meetings and decided to carry on with the proposals. They regarded it as their riglit to do as they liked in tlie matter, mid were enthusiastically supporting the Queen Carnival campaign. It was stated that the girls were making tills effort voluntarily as a patriotic effort. Their employers could not force them to work if they did not wisli to do so: they controlled theit own destiny, and it was for each firm’s employees to decide for themselves whether they wished to contribute in this way to the success of the campaign. A great many had decided to do so.

Emphasis was laid on the fad that Hie effort was being made by the employees themselves, and that all proceeds were being contributed by the staffs, and not by tlie firms concerned.

Referring to tin* objections made by llie Clothing Trudes Union, a manufacturer concerned said that the whole correspondence would bo placed before I lie Prime Minister. In view of his appeals for harder work and greater production, it was considered shameful ihat a union secretary should attempt to discourage workers and so bumper tlie patriotic effort.