40 HOURS WEEK

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 June 1936, Page 10

40 HOURS WEEK

EMPLOYERS’ INTIMATION

[per press association.]

AUCKLAND, June 10.

An important indication of the attitude of a section of the employers toward the 40-hours week was given in a statement made by Mr T. 0. Bishop, Secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, at a sitting of the Conciliation Council in Auckland. The case was that of the Dominion clothing trades dispute, and the claims for a Dominion award put forward by the New Zealand Federated Clothing Trade Employees Union including the provision for the 40-hours week. “We realise that it* is the Government’s desire to see the 40-hours week inaugurated in as many industries as possible in New Zealand,” said Mr Bishop. “With that knowledge we are not putting up useless opposition to the reduction of hours, but it must be understood that the introduction of the 40-hours week in this trade will inevitably have the effect of in-, creasing costs, in addition to many other increases imposed directly by amended legislation. It is open to employers to apply to the Court of Arbitration for an extension of the hours to 44. We would prefer, however, to arrange a 44-hours week with -the Union, even if that were to mean the payment of overtime rates, fqr four hours a week; but, unless we can reach some such understanding as that, the employers at this stage, are not prepared to accept the 40hours week without making a subsequent application for an extension of liours to the Court.” The Uniop representatives intimated. that they would consider the question in the luncheon adjournment, but. on resuming later, they announced that they were not prepared to agree to any hours in excess of 40 pel week. If they did agree to any extended hours, under the conditions laid down, it was stated, it would bi* an act of disloyalty to the Government an(l t 0 other Unions. r The question of hours was held over.