CHRISTMAS WISHES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 4

CHRISTMAS WISHES

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE GATHERING

Punctually at 4 o'clock the timeclocks in the Government Printing Office, which record the time of entry and departure of employees, took a jump to 5 last Wednesday evening, and proceedings in the various branches relaxed from strict discipline to conviviality. Particular interest invested the proceedings on this occasion, as it was anticipated that owing to the emergence from the depression and consequent expansion of staffs a number of young officers would be added to the permanent staff, and this proved to be correct. . .

Another pleasing, and to the, recipients an agreeable surprise, was the payment of full wages to casual employees for the fortnight the office will be closed. This is in: conformity with the policy of the Labour Government that no distinction be\ made; between permanent and casual employees where possible. The Government Printer (Mr. G. H. Loney) made his usual round of the gatherings of different branches, and was everywhere cordially received. At the typographical gathering Mr. R. H. Stickney (Father) presided. About 100 of the staff were ••■ present, and a short toast list was honoured. In proposing the toast of the "Printing Trades Union," Mr. A. D. Robbie regretted that employees of private firms had , not. yet achieved the 40-hour : .week,-and expressed the ,hpp.e_,that when the agreement, which was__a short one, expired' this would be achieved and the general prestige ol the craft restored. . ', Mr C. H. Chapman, M.P., president of the union, in replying, remarked that the decision of the Arbitration. Court in awarding a 44-hour week had considerably handicapped the representatives of the union in the recent conciliation proceedings. However, with the expiry of the present agreement, and the general prosperity of the Dominion; better things could be hoped for by the crafts in the future.