A SEVENTY-HOUR WEEK

Evening Star, Issue 18254, 19 April 1923, Page 11

A SEVENTY-HOUR WEEK

AWARD PROTESTED.

CONDITIONS FOR KILN BURNERS. (Teh United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, April 18. Strong exception has been taken by tbo workers concerned' to the award given the other day in connection with the brickmaking industry In Auckland, in regard to hours for kiln burners. This morning tho following telegram was despatched to the Minister of Labor by Messrs Bertram, Savage, Leo, Parry, and Jordan (Labor M.P.s) ;—“ Wo wish to draw your attention to the award recently delivered by the present sitting of the Arbitration Court at Auckland. Tho award in question provides for a seventy-hour week for certain workers in the brick-making industry. Jn view of tho fact that the union was prepared to agree to a fifty-six-hour week, we consider the award unjust, and that the time has passed in this country for workers to be sentenced to such unjust conditions. Wo further wish to point out that tho same award does not provide for overtime rates for some workers who arc called on to do mgnt work after having worked the whole day. Your attention is directed to olauso 427 of the Peace Treaty, signed by the Prime Minister, which endorses the principle of an eight-hour day.” Clause 427 of the Ponce Treaty, referred to in the telegram, sets out that certain principles for regulating labor conditions should be aimed at in all industrial communities so far as their special circumstances would permit, _ and the clausa recommends tho adoption of an eight-hour day and of a forty-oipht-hour week as the standard to be aimed at whore it has not already been attained.