CONSENT OF THE WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1939, Page 11

CONSENT OF THE WORKERS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, August 3

When the announcement that girls might be permitted to work four hours in boot factories on Saturday mornings was referred to the manager of a large local boot factory tonight, he expressed appreciation, and said that the decision would be welcomed by Dunedin manufacturers.

Some time ago, he said, a vote was taken by two boot manufacturing firms in the city on the question of working on Saturday mornings, and the girls concerned were practically unanimous in their willingness to cooperate. The proposal was at first not looked on with favour by the executive of the union, but. it had apparently reconsidered the matter and decided to forward a request to Auckland.

The manager said that if the overtime arrangement had not Been made it would have meant that the services of some of the male operatives would have had to be dispensed with, as he could not obtain enough girls to keep them going. Female labour was very scarce at present, and the position had been accentuated by a rush of orders, with heavy commitments ahead, that would kee|> the factories busy for some time.