FORTY HOUR WEEK

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1936, Page 9

FORTY HOUR WEEK

UPHELD BY COURT

FOR FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, July 2

“Upon careful consideration of the whole evidence tendered, and of the submissions made on behalf of the respective parties, we are of opinion it has not been established it would be impracticable io carry on efficiently this industry, or the work of any of the factories in question, on the forty-hour week.” This was the effect of the judgment delivered by the Arbitration Court, this morning, in the case dealing with the footwear industry, in which exception was sought from the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, fixing the forty hour week. Mr. Justice Page, in the judgment reviewed the provisions of the Act and the submissions' put by the employers who sought an extension of the hours on the grounds that increased costs would be to the detriment of the industry as a whole, and the shortage of skilled machine operatives. The evidence showed that the former prejudice against New Zealandmade footwear has been largely overcome, and New Zealand factories had captured against overseas competition, the bulk of the New Zealand trade. All the factories regarding which evidence given were at present working to maximum capacity, and were finding difficulty in coping with the orders flowing in.

The judgment said that in an industry of that type, where no lengthy technical process, necessitating the attendance of individual workers for longer periods than forty hours a week was involved, the question of the forty hour week resolved itself substantially into a problem of finance. Whether it would be impracticable for an industry of that type to carry on efficiently on the forty hour week, depended, the Court thought, on whether the industry .would be able successfully and profitably to operate under the altered conditions. Though no balance sheets or other information showing the financial operations or trading returns of the various manufacturers were made available to the Court, the Court thought it clear from the evidence that the industry was in a very buoyant and favourable position. Business was, the Court had been told, better than it had been at any time during the last seven years. The Court therefore made an order to take effect on September 1, amending the awards involved by fixing at forty hours (exclusive of overtime), to be worked in any week by any worker bound by such awards, the rates of pay to be adjusted so that the ordinary rates of the weekly wages of any worker would not be reduced by reason of the reduction made in the number of working hours. The question of Saturday -work which the Act sought to avoid, the judgment stated, would be dealt with in a subsequent memorandum. TIMBER INDUSTRY. WELLINGTON, July 1. An application for an extension of hours from forty to forty-four per week was made by timber merchants and coopers in the Arbitration Court today. In support, it was stated that because of a close relationship existing in many factories between the milling, seasoning and dressing of timber, it was essential for a timber merchan t to have the hours of employees as long as those worked by sawmills. In the past, timber merchants had almost invariablv found it necessary to work longer hours than the building industry. It was submitted that the reduction in the ordinary hours to forty would make it impracticable to carry on efficiently. The Court reserved its decision.

CORDIAL MAKERS.

WELLINGTON, July 1

On the ground that the demand for beverages is heavier in summer than in winter, the aerated cordial manufacturers asked the Arbitration Court for an extension of hours beyond 40 per week. They argued that the cost of bottles necessary to carry the summer stock if only 40 hours were worked would be a factor in prices. The employers asked for a 48-hour week in summer. The application was opposed by the workers. Decision was reserved.