SMOKELESS FUEL

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1936, Page 18

SMOKELESS FUEL

WORKING HOURS

EXTENSION CLAIMED

Two companies engaged in the manufacture of fuel applied to the Arbitration Court yesterday afternoon for an extension of working hours beyond 40 on the grounds that the1 processes of manufacture were continuous. The applications were supported by Mr. D. 1 Macdonald, secretary of the Canterbury Employers', Association. The workers were not represented.

The first application heard was that of Smokeless \Fuel and Briquettes (Canterbury), Ltd.

Mr. Macdonald said the company manufactured coke and briquettes, and gave a brief description of the opera tions of the works. Six retorts weru used for making coke and the men employed were skilled in operating, the [plant. : It was submitted that the hours lof work should not be altered.

The men on the briquetting plant were also skilled in operating the plant and. it would not be practicable to reduce their hours of work, which were 44 per week.

As the company would have to, reduce its ordinary working hours—s6l per week—on the coke plant to 44 at least under the Factories Act, said Mr. Macdonald, it was applying • for special exemption ■ from the Minister of Labour. As the comp_any considered it had a good claim for inclusion under the second' schedule of the Factories Act, he suggested the decision of the Court might be delayed until the matter could be discussed with the Minister. Mr. G. V. Cross, general manager of the company, gave evidence on the points outlined by Mr. Macdonald. Decision, was reserved. WESTPOBT COKE OVENS. The second application, which was for an extension of hours for the Westport Coal Company's coke ovens, was opposed by letter from the workers. Mr., Macdonald said the application was "for an extension of hours to 44 per week for workers at the coal com pany's coke ovens at Granity, West Coast. A,72-hour cycle was required £or the production .of one oven of coke. If the coke was left longer than that loss would result. The produce of the ovens ■ was sold for use' in. foundries and for kiln drying.

Evidence regarding the operation of the ovens was given by Mr. .O. J Davis, manager for the applicant" com' pany at Granity, who said that the 40-hour week could.be applied if work could be done on Saturday.

His Honour Mr. Justice Page saio. an order would be made for a 40-hour week spread over six days.