40-HOUR WEEK

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 10

40-HOUR WEEK

IN CITY SERVICES

CLAIM FOR EXEMPTION

KEEPING THE DOGE OPEN

After a discussion in committee last night the City Council decided to make formal application for exemption from the provisions of the legislation concerning the 40-hoiir week and extra holiday pay. The step was taken, however, as a precautionary measure, for the council is not yet in possession of detailed figures which will indicate what will be the effect of the proposed conditions on city finances. "On the information at present available it seems that the total additional costs to the city resulting from the recent legislation affecting hours, wages, and holidays will reach a sum of approximately £7G,000 per annum, if the same services are to be maintained," said the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, today. "As the council is at present advised it appears that application for exemption, in whole or in part, from the provisions laid down in | the legislation must be filed in the Arbitration Court prior to June 22, and authority was consequently taken last, night to file formal for objection, so as to protect the position until the council has an opportunity of going thoroughly into the whole matter.

"It is, of course, a question of wages and means, and the object of the resolution passed last night was to keep the door open to enable the council to ask for exemption, in whole or in part, for all lime or temporarily, according to the information which will be available after the necessary inquiries into the departments have been made.

QUESTION TO CONSIDER,

"The question will be," said Mr. Hislop, "whether the additional moneys are to be raised to meet the whole of the increased expenditure or -whether there will be a curtailment of services, so as to meet the additional costs within the present revenue. It is quite clear that the last course cannot be followed wholly, and it may be that the way out will be through a combination of both courses. On the other hand it may be necessary to obtain exemption to some degree in order to keep the services going and to protect financial stability, but the whole subject is a very difficult one, and no definite indication can be given until the whole of the information is made available through the departmental reports now being prepared."