EXTENSION OF HOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 108, 9 May 1941, Page 8

EXTENSION OF HOURS

NEWSPAPER REPORT

EXCEPTION TAKEN

Exception is taken .by the New Zealand Employers' Federation to a statement to the following effect which appeared .in the "Standard"- on 'April 17:— ■' .• ■ ■ ■"■ '; ;.-''• v, '

"The Industrial Emergency Council had before it an application from the New Zealand Employers' Federation, for a general extension.of hours to 44 per week .This was turned down by the council. At the meeting 6f the; council held on December 17, 1940, a further attempt was made to bring this matter before the council by way of general business,, but nd formal resolution was presented." . The secretary 'of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, Mr. C. G. Camp, in a letter to . the "Standard" -stated that the above statement and further passages in the report were incorrect and misleading. The federation had made no general application to the council,, as it was aware that it should be considered only, by Cabinet,, because, notwithstanding any advice the council/might give; the Minister's powers were limited by. regulation to cases in which the relief was required to facilitate the effective conduct of emergency operations > arising out of the war. The regulations' were never intended to give the council power to recommend any general extension of hours, and, while: the federation considered that a general extension was desirable for the duration of the war, it would not make-such, an application to a body which could only decline to consider it. > The federation had no knowledge of any such discussions in the council, nor of any "further attempt" to have such a matter discussed on December 17, 1940. .... ;;.•■.. MAINTAINING PRODUCTION. Jt was recognised by the federation, continued statement, that .'■ any question'of the general extension'/ of hours was a matter for'l;'Cabinet, and, recognising this,-it had written to,the Minister'of Labour on June 5, enclosing a; resolution to the effect that it was, imperative that production should be maintained, and {i possible increased, and, pointing out that this could be attained by working longer hours. The suspension of the 40-hour week was urged for the -duration' of the war and for six months thereafter. ; If workers would agree to an extension of hours for war effort, the federation wbul'd not oppose an automatic return to the existing hours, to , take effect' six months after hostilities ceased, the matter to be thereafter viewed by all parties on its merits. If the letter enclosing this resolution was referred to the council, it was without the request or-knowledge of the federation; A similar letter was sent by the federation to the Director of National Service, who replied that he was referring the representations made to the Minister of National .Service for consideration by the Government. If j this letter was considered by the council, it was again without the know- j ledge or desire of the federation.

The letter to the "Standard" asked for a published correction. ..