FOR MORE EFFICIENCY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1940, Page 9

FOR MORE EFFICIENCY

CIVIL SERVICE HOURS

TRAMWAY TRAFFIC PROBLEM

While the change in the working hours in the Civil Service (with the exception of the Railway Department and the Post and Telegraph Department) has made little difference as regards rail transport, it has shortened the morning and evening peak periods of the city tramways service. Not all civil servants invariably went straight home after work when the hour for closing Government offices was 4.30 p.m., but a .sufficiently large proportion of them ""did, thus easing the rush between 5 and 6, but since the Civil Service hours were altered last Wednesday the overcrowding on suburban tram services has become acute.

The reaction of the men in the public services affected is not easy to ob* tain individually, for perhaps obvious reasons. The president of the New Zealand Public Service Association, Mr. T. Pound, said today that the Public Service Commissioner had advised the association of the proposals before they were brought into effect. They had been informed that it was most difficult to obtain any consensus opinion as to'how it would be viewed by civil servants affected throughout New Zealand. The association did not agree to the proposal, neither did it disagree. It merely raised no objections.

It was stated on behalf of the Public Service Commissioner today that the new hours of starting, especially in the South Island, would be more convenient. It was considered that the alteration of the starting hour to 8.25 would increase efficiency generally. The various transport authorities had been consulted, and no objections were raised to- the altered hours. The change took effect throughout New Zealand, with the exception of Wellington, from May 1. In Wellington, it the request of the General Manager of the City Tramways, the date of the change was made May 8, so that the tramway authorities could clear the Exhibition influx prior to the change taking place. The hours had been adopted by the Post and Telegraph Department throughout New Zealand, with the exception of Wellington.

The change would remain in force indefinitely, it was stated. It had been under consideration for a considerable time, and the Commissioner was satisfied that it would increase efficiency. It was emphasised that most Government Departments had their business contacts with commercial houses working with an 8.30 or 9 a.m. start.. The Wellington hours were from 8:25 to 12.30, and from 1.30 to 5. It was pointed out that the starting hour was always 8.30 up to the commencement of the five-day week. The extent of the working hours was practically the same, 37 hours 55 minutes.