HOURS OF WORK

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 40, 17 February 1942, Page 6

HOURS OF WORK

MORE ELASTICITY?

MAN-POWER SHORTAGE

The possibility that some more elastic system of arranging for extended hours in industry would soon be needed, in view of the shortage of man-power in essential industries, was mentioned by Mr. C. L. Hunter, Conciliation Commissioner, of Auckland, during the hearing of the Dominion coach and motor body builders and related trades' dispute today. Mr. L. Glover was advocate fo. the workers and Mr. W. J. Mountjoy fOr the employers. The workers' claims were for a 36----hour week, a 10 per cent, increase in wages, plus the 5 per cent, provided for'in the General Order, all work on Saturdays to be paid for at double rates, 2s meal money, _d per hour tool money, and tools to be insured by the employer against loss. The employers' counter-proposals rejected the claim for increased wages, and proposed a 40-hour five-day week to be worked between 7.30 a.ni. and 5 p.m., but claimed the right to employ any worker up to. four hours in excess of 40 hours in any week, on the day ordinarily observed as a half-holi-day at ordinary rates of pay. Mr. Glover asked that the employers should not insist on the claim for four hours' extra work at ordinary rates of pay. "You are asking for a 36-hour week today, when Singapore has fallen," said Mr. J. E. Hunt (Wellington), an assessor for employers. "We aire asking that workers as well as employers should show some evidence of assistance in times like these. Every factory and industry is on war work. With petrol scarce and motor vehicles off the road, our factories were practically empty until they received work from the Army and Air Force, and that is what is keeping us going today. The Government is seeing that the ' employer makes no profit out of the war, but if the employer does not, the worker must not. SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE. "I feel that collectively in New Zealand today we are not making the sacrifice we should be making. Our iri^ dustry represents transport, and I think if it would come forward with a proposal to work longer hours, the Government would be grateful. The private soldier, on 7s a day, with perhaps 30s for tucker, averages about; 6d an hour. Men,in my factory average 3s 6d." Mr. Glover said that the greater part of Mr. Hunt's remarks were being directed at things not connected with, the proceedings. The point at issue was the extension" of hours from 40 to 44. The Government had set up a tribunal especially-, for that, before which anybody could go to extend hours in an essential industry. .Mr. Hunt talked of sacrifices. There was nothing to stop him giving back to the Government the difference between the ordinary time and the overtime. The worker was getting nothing out of it. Mr. Hunt said thai he was sorry if he had broken the rules of the council, but he felt very Strongly about it. There was no need to,hand over profits, because the/ Government took them. His firm had made some large donations. > * Mr. Glover: You cannot make donations unless you have profits. •• • EXTENSIONS OF- HOURS. The Conciliation Commissioner said that there were over 20 < group industries in New Zealand which had had various extensions of hours. "There are a few industries in which it seems necessary that some more elastic system should be inaugurated, but I think it *is more a job for the Government' than the council," said Mr. Hunter. "I know that in Auckland this difficulty is becoming very acute. Many men are going into the Army. I have heard it said that even farmers might have to close down on that account. That seems unreasonable, but in my opinion some attempt will have to be , made soon to deal with the difficulties which are arising." "Many men receive more than the standard rate,"-said Mr. Mountjoy, "but that does not actually point to a need for increasing the standard rate of wages. The standard rate is now fixed at 2s 9d. It has not been ■ increased by the .Court in any of the skilled trades, and we are not prepared to^raise the standard rate above 2s 9d^." (Proceeding.)